Did air conditioning pave the way for government shutdowns?

When the Residence Act of 1790 moved the United States' federal government from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. with an 1800 deadline, the Northeastern Corridor's famously hot, oppressive and humid summers followed members of Congress to their new home. Senate and House lawmakers, during the 19th Century, coped with the heat by taking the hottest months off.

The arrival of air conditioning in the 20th Century made the summer months more comfortable for federal lawmakers. But according to Politico's Nick Niedzwiadek, there is a downside to having air conditioning in the U.S. Capitol Building: Government shutdowns became more likely.

"Historically, lawmakers were loath to stay in Washington beyond the first six months or so of the year as the dew point climbed," Niedzwiadek explains in an article published on September 12. "But as their portfolio expanded and the wonders of air conditioning made the D.C. heat less oppressive by the 1930s, Congress stuck around longer. The House held just 144 legislative days between 1907 and 1909, compared to 330 between 2021 and 2023."

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Niedzwiadek continues, "But the shift in the calendar ultimately led to unforeseen consequences — including a tough new deadline to pass spending bills. Meanwhile, Congress grew more gridlocked, fighting increasingly bitter partisan battles over the size and scope of government."

Those partisan battles, according to Niedzwiadek, led to a series of government shutdowns — the first in 1980 under President Jimmy Carter. Subsequent shutdowns occurred under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

Now, in 2023, another shutdown is a strong possibility if President Joe Biden and GOP lawmakers are unable to reach a funding agreement in the weeks ahead.

"The fervor of the hardliners even extends to congressional sleeping arrangements," Niedzwiadek notes. "Hundreds of members, in recent decades, have elected to sleep in their offices — something that would have been largely unthinkable in the pre-A/C days."

READ MORE: Republicans in disarray as government shutdown fight looms: report

Politico's full report is available at this link.