The Trump shutdown lasted over a month, making it the longest federal government shutdown in history—all because Trump insisted on taking the government hostage over a racist, expensive, and ineffective wall.

The shutdown only ended after Trump caved, but even the short-term deal only extends government funding until February 15th. After that date, we may be back to square one.

This is just the latest incarnation of a long-term problem. Remember when New Gingrich and Republicans shutdown the government in 1995 and 1996? Remember when the Tea Party and Ted Cruz did it in 2013? Unless the Republican party changes—and don't count on that—we can expect more shutdowns in the future.

It wasn’t always this way. Until 1980, the federal government was funded at its current levels (the default position) in the event that congress couldn’t pass budgets on time. This provided stability for the millions of government employees and contractors, like those whose livelihoods are currently in jeopardy.

Various pieces of legislation are currently being introduced that would prevent shutdowns, allowing funding to remain at default levels if there is a political stalemate.

We cannot let federal government workers—and the services they provide—become hostage to politically partisan battles time and time again. Enough is enough.