1981, 1984, and 1986 U.S. federal government shutdowns

Three government shutdowns in 1981, 1984, and 1986 involved federal employees being furloughed for brief periods. The shutdowns were generally used by President Ronald Reagan to pressure Congress about specific provisions in appropriations bills, or to encourage Congress to pass the bills more quickly.

The first of them took place in November 1981. Reagan had vetoed a proposed appropriation bill that contained fewer spending cuts than he had proposed, the first veto of his administration. The second one took place in October 1984. Reagan had mounted opposition towards a water projects package and a civil rights measure that would have reversed the Supreme Court decision Grove City College v. Bell. Another point of contention with Congress was a ban on funding for covert operations in Nicaragua proposed by Senator Daniel Inouye. The third and last one took place in October 1986. Reagan wanted to pressure Congress to agree on a full-year omnibus appropriations bill more quickly.

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