Fact Check: "Trump longest government shutdown in history"
What We Know
The claim that Donald Trump oversaw the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is accurate. The shutdown occurred from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, lasting a total of 35 days. This shutdown was primarily due to a disagreement between President Trump and Congress regarding funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, which was a key campaign promise of Trump's presidency.
The shutdown resulted in approximately 800,000 federal workers being furloughed or working without pay, affecting various government departments, including the Departments of State, Justice, and Treasury [source-2]. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the shutdown cost the U.S. economy over $11 billion, a figure that some experts believe may underestimate the long-term economic impact [source-2].
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust and comes from multiple credible sources. According to Wikipedia, the 2018-2019 shutdown is officially recognized as the longest in U.S. history, surpassing the previous record of 21 days set during the 1995-1996 shutdown. This is corroborated by reports from CBS News and Politico, which detail the circumstances surrounding the shutdown and its duration.
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations and encyclopedic references. They provide detailed accounts of the events leading to the shutdown, the political context, and the consequences for federal workers and the economy. Additionally, the New York Times and Government Executive have also reported on the shutdown's duration and its implications, further solidifying the claim's accuracy.
While some sources may present varying figures regarding the economic impact, the consensus remains that the shutdown was unprecedented in length and had significant repercussions for federal employees and the broader economy.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Donald Trump oversaw the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is true. The evidence clearly shows that the shutdown lasted 35 days, making it the longest on record, and was a result of political disagreements over funding for the border wall.
Sources
- 2018-2019 United States federal government shutdown
- Longest Government Shutdown: Why, How and Where We Go From Here
- 5 longest government shutdowns in U.S. history
- A List of the Longest Government Shutdowns in U.S. History
- Government shutdowns in the United States - Wikipedia
- Longest shutdown in history ends after Trump relents on wall
- Qui est Massad Boulos, ce libanais conseiller de TRUMP
- What was the longest government shutdown in U.S. history?
