Bipartisan congressional report puts cost to taxpayers of recent government shutdowns at $4 billion

The past three U.S. government shutdowns have cost taxpayers roughly $4 billion, according to an incomplete tally released Tuesday following a months-long bipartisan congressional investigation.

A report detailed at least $3.7 billion in back pay to furloughed federal workers and at least $338 million in other costs associated with the shutdowns, including extra administrative work, lost revenue and late fees on interest payments.

The tally was based on a survey of 26 federal agencies but did not include data from some of the largest government agencies, including the departments of Defense, Agriculture, Justice and Commerce, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency.

View the complete September 17 article by John Wagner on The Washington Post website here.