Government Shutdown Ended But Threat Looms Again
The three-day federal government shutdown came to an end this past weekend as the White House and Congress came to an agreement on a short-term spending deal. The agreement re-opens the government through Feb. 8, provides 6 years of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and commits the Senate Majority leader to holding a vote on legislation to address the long-term status of “Dreamers” if a legislative solution to address the status of undocumented immigrants is not reached by then.
While the end of the shutdown is welcome news, it is not clear that the political dynamics that led to the initial shutdown have markedly changed and a shutdown in the near future is a distinct possibility.
Last Reviewed: January 29, 2018
