Clinton rejects Republican budget package second government shutdown begins lasting 21 days

On December 16, 1995, a second government shutdown begins after continued spending bill negotiations fail. President Clinton again rejects Republican appropriations legislation containing what he views as unacceptable cuts to education, environment, public health, and Medicare. Gingrich and House Republicans remain committed to forcing Clinton to accept a balanced budget framework. Gingrich even threatens to refuse raising the debt ceiling if Clinton doesn't capitulate. This shutdown proves longer and more severe than the November outage. Fewer departments close than in November, and about 284,000 federal workers are furloughed, fewer than the first shutdown but still substantial. The impasse occurs during the holiday season, affecting federal employees and their families during Christmas and New Year celebrations. The public sympathy that accrued to Clinton during the first shutdown hardens into outright opposition to the Republican stance.