<P> In September 2008 , the Big Three asked for $50 billion to pay for health care expenses and avoid bankruptcy and ensuing layoffs , and Congress worked out a $25 billion loan . By December , President Bush had agreed to an emergency bailout of $17.4 billion to be distributed by the next administration in January and February . In early 2009 , the prospect of avoiding bankruptcy by General Motors and Chrysler continued to wane as new financial information about the scale of the 2008 losses came in . Ultimately , poor management and business practices forced Chrysler and General Motors into bankruptcy . Chrysler filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 1 , 2009 followed by General Motors a month later . </P>
<P> In September 2008 , the Big Three asked for $50 billion to pay for health care expenses and avoid bankruptcy and ensuing layoffs , and Congress worked out a $25 billion loan . By December , President Bush had agreed to an emergency bailout of $17.4 billion to be distributed by the next administration in January and February . In early 2009 , the prospect of avoiding bankruptcy by General Motors and Chrysler continued to wane as new financial information about the scale of the 2008 losses came in . Ultimately , poor management and business practices forced Chrysler and General Motors into bankruptcy . Chrysler filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 1 , 2009 followed by General Motors a month later . </P>
when did the government bailout the auto industry
when did the government bailout the auto industry
September 2008
September 2008