By the Numbers: Government Shutdown

For the 21st time in U.S. history, and the third time since Donald Trump was elected president, the federal government is in a partial shutdown. This shutdown went into effect at midnight Dec. 22, and with no end in sight, it could be the longest shutdown on record. (The previous record was 21 days during the Bill Clinton administration: Dec. 16, 1995, through Jan. 5, 1996.) Ronald Reagan presided over the most government shutdowns – eight of them – but the longest one lasted only three days. Five shutdowns occurred during the Jimmy Carter administration, running from eight days to 17.

This shutdown is fueled by President Trump’s desire to have a $5 billion wall built on the southern border. Democrats have dug in their heels on the issue, offering $1.3 billion in border security funding. Trump maintains the shutdown will continue until they approve the full $5 billion.

The finance website WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia in terms of five key metrics – including each state’s share of federal jobs, federal contract dollars per capita and the share of families receiving food stamps – and determined that Wisconsin is the state that is sixth least affected by the shutdown.

1

The ranking for the District of Columbia as the area most affected by the shutdown. It is followed by New Mexico, Maryland, Hawaii and Alaska.

30

Wisconsin’s ranking in real estate as a percentage of GSP (gross state product). Hawaii ranks first in this category.

32

Wisconsin’s ranking in percent of families receiving SNAP (food stamps). The District of Columbia ranks first in this category, followed by Mississippi, New Mexico, Oregon and Louisiana. Wyoming ranks last.

37

Wisconsin’s ranking in federal contract dollars per capita. The District of Columbia ranks first in this category, and Arkansas is last.

46

Wisconsin’s ranking in access to national parks. Alaska is first in this category, and Indiana is last.

51

Wisconsin’s ranking in number of federal jobs. The District of Columbia is first, followed by Hawaii, Maryland, Alaska and Virginia.

To view the full report, visit wallethub.com/edu/government-shutdown-report/1111.