Shutdown: Examining Federal Government Closure Impacts on the District of Columbia

The purpose of the hearing was to examine the impacts of federal government shutdown, particularly the most recent closure in October 2013, on the District of Columbia. Specifically, the discussion highlighted any potentially adverse effects experienced by city government and residents due to the cessation of some federal operations.

The hearing examined the extent of any impacts on city government’s daily operations, particularly public service provision, and longer-term effects upon spending efficiency. The discussion included a review of the effectiveness of measures undertaken by Congress and District government during the most recent shutdown to mitigate any of these impacts, as well as steps that might be taken to ensure that the disruption due to any future shutdown is minimized.