Federal shutdowns in the 1990s

Federal shutdowns in 1995 and 1996 closed government offices, parks and museums, and caused several hundred thousand workers to be furloughed.

5 Seconds

00:00

Nov. 14, 1995

An employee of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington hangs a sign on the door explaining the reason for the museum closure. The U.S. government sent nearly 800,000 "nonessential" employees home after a budget impasse led to a five-day shutdown in November 1995.

/ AFP

Nov. 13, 1995

President Bill Clinton receives a temporary borrowing bill, which he then vetoed, from White House staff secretary Todd Stern in the Oval Office. Clinton accused Republicans of prompting the budget impasse to impose their budget priorities on him. Observing, from left, are Vice President Al Gore, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta.

Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press

Dec. 16, 1995

Gallery Protection Officer Patrick Rogers reaches for the closed sign and pulls it inside the National Gallery of Art as he and other officers close the doors to the gallery during a second government shutdown.

Nancy Andrews / The Washington Post

Jan. 3, 1995

Vicky Lawson is comforted by friend Shanon Timmons as Lawson's husband, Ruperto, looks on outside federal government offices in Los Angeles. Vicky Lawson, who was pregnant, her husband and Timmons were all furloughed Housing and Urban Development workers who participated in a protest to oppose the partial government shutdown created by the budget standstill.

Rene Macura / Associated Press

Nov. 16, 1995

White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta is surrounded by reporters in the White House briefing room during the partial shutdown of the federal government

Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press

Jan. 3, 1995

Federal workers hold a demonstration outside the State Department to protest the partial federal government shutdown. House Republican leaders had dismissed a Senate plan that would send idled federal workers back to work.

Dennis Cook / Associated Press

Nov. 14, 1995

Workers leave the Commerce Department as a result of the federal government shutdown. According to federal guidelines, the only agencies that stay open during a shutdown are those that provide for the national secuirty, provide for benefit payments and the performance of contract obligations and those that conduct essential activities to protect life and liberty.

Nancy Andrews / The Washington Post

Dec. 15, 1995

As a second government shutdown, which lasted through Jan. 6. 1996, began, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) gestures to a chart listing some of the consequences of a shutdown at a news conference. Behind Hoyer are Rep. Karen McCarthy (D-Mo.), left, and Rep. Lane Evans (D-Ill.).

Ray Lustig / The Washington Post

Dec. 26, 1995

Dave Glass of Baltimore, a federal computer assistant, and about 100 other furloughed Social Security Administration workers gather at the Arthur J. Altmeyer Building in Woodlawn, Md., to protest the government shutdown.

Gary Sussman / Associated Press

Nov. 14, 1995

Visitors leave the Lincoln Memorial, which was closed because of the government shutdown.

Nancy Andrews / The Washington Post

Jan. 2, 1996

Bernice Chandler, left, a federal government employee, and other furloughed workers protest the government shutdown in front of the Social Security Administration offices in Woodlawn, Md.

Gary Sussman / Associated Press

Jan. 3, 1996

Labor Secretary Robert Reich, surrounded by boxes of Labor Department mail unanswered because of the partial government shutdown, gestures during a Washington news conference to discuss effects of the shutdown on his department.

Denis Paquin / Associated Press

Jan. 3, 1996

D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) talks to reporters before to a news conference to discuss how the government shutdown is affecting the District.

Ray Lustig / The Washington Post

Sept. 27, 1996

Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.) speaks during a news conference, saying there will be no government shutdown this time. Behind Warner are Rep.Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) and Rep. Constance A. Morella (R-Md.).

Ray Lustig / The Washington Post

Jan. 11, 1996

Ramona Evans sorts the mountains of mail that piled up at the Department of Labor during one of the government shutdowns.

Tyler Mallory / For The Washington Post

Jan. 6, 1996

Zoo animal keeper Joann Sordellini works with gray seals Keltie and Selkie at the National Zoo. Sordellini was a furloughed worker.

Juana Arias / The Washington Post

Jan. 5, 1996

Legislators gather with federal employees in a rallly demanding the end of the government shutdown. From left are Rep. Constance A. Morella (R-Md.), Rep. Albert Wynn (D-Md.), Rep. Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) at lectern, Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Sen. Charles S. Robb (D-Va.).

Ray Lustig / The Washington Post

Jan. 5, 1996

Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) emerges from a caucus of House Republicans on their proposed legislation to get the government back to work and pay federal employees.

Ray Lustig / The Washington Post

Jan. 3, 1996

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employee Elmira Benson protests the partial government shutdown outside the 6th District office of House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) in Marietta, Ga. About three dozen federal employees marched to protest the stalled budget talks.

John Bazemore / Associated Press

Jan. 3, 1996

Greg Phillips, a State Department employee, and Victoria Alvarado, with the U.S. Information Agency, participate in a rally outside the State Department to protest the government shutdown. Several hundred employees participated.

Dayna Smith / The Washington Post

Featured Photo Galleries

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Winnie Pajcic, 9, holds on to a railing as she leans back in the wind during a visit to Stockton Park in Ortega, Fla., in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Beryl on Monday May 28, 2012. Beryl came ashore early Monday near Jacksonville Beach with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Kelly Jordan)

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more in the day in photos

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 26: Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (C) performs with dancers during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Lil Jon, Eddie Van Halen, Mariah Carey and other celebrities.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

COVINGTON, LA - MAY 14: Brother Emmanuel Labrise of St. Joseph's Abbey prepares a casket for lining on May 15, 2012 in Covington, Louisiana. Louisiana law forbids those who are not licensed funeral directors from selling caskets. And since Hurricane Katrina leveled the timberlands that once provided the main source of funding for the abbey, the monks have attempted to make a living by building and selling simple cypress caskets. The monks won their first round last year, and have a hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in June. (Photo by Sean Gardner/For the Washington Post)

Louisiana monks fight for the right to sell coffins

Federal court case pits a group of monks against the funeral home industry.

Back to Previous Gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.