As anticipated, Congress failed to fund the government prior to the end of the fiscal year, resulting in a government shutdown. Sadly, this is not new territory, 1997 was the last time Congress fully funded the government on time. Despite that horrible track-record Congress has typically managed to pass short-term funding patches to keep the government open. However, there have been ten partial government shutdowns since 1981.

How long will it last? It is a question that is difficult to answer, but right now I feel like this will be measured in weeks more than days. The last government shutdown was also the longest, lasting 35 days starting on December 22, 2018. That year the fight was over $5 billion in funding that President Trump requested to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. During that debate it was the Republicans asking for more money, and the Democrats looking for a “clean” continuing resolution (CR). This year the tables are turned, with Republicans seeking level funding, and the Democrats asking for more money. The Democratic wish-list weighs in at a hefty $1.5 trillion in spending including extending the enhanced ACA subsidies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those subsidies are set to expire on December 31^st and are aimed at individuals earning less than 400% of the federal poverty level.