Currently, the government shutdown shows no signs of ending, and with just about a month left until the start of fiscal year 2026, both Democrats and Republicans are still quite a bit apart on federal spending agreements.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are on furlough, and many have lost their jobs. Additionally, several federal services are not operating due to funding issues.
This situation isn’t new; conflicts like this have previously caused parts or all of the government to shut down. Below, we’ll look at the five longest government shutdowns in U.S. history and how they were resolved.
December 2018–January 2019: 35 days
The longest shutdown on record took place during President Trump’s first term, lasting five weeks. It all revolved around funding for his proposed border wall. Trump refused to agree to a spending deal without that funding, and a separate $5.7 billion proposal faced a Senate filibuster from Democrats. Eventually, Trump backed a temporary funding measure to reopen the government on January 25, 2019, leading Congress to approve $1.375 billion for a portion of border fencing later.
The outcome resulted in lawmakers reaching agreements on five of the twelve necessary spending bills before time ran out.
October 1, 2025–Current: 26 days and counting
The present shutdown is now the second longest ever, marking the longest complete shutdown in history. This impasse stems from Congress’s failure to finalize a funding agreement before the September 30 expiration date for fiscal year 2025.
With a Republican majority in both the House and Senate, there was a proposal to extend spending at previous levels for another seven weeks, but it stalled multiple times in the Senate, despite passing the House with limited bipartisan support.
As the situation drags on, tensions have escalated, with a recent heated exchange between Hakeem Jeffries and Mike Lawler highlighting the impasse. Democrats are also advocating for the inclusion of an extension for enhanced Obamacare subsidies in the funding package, which are set to expire soon without legislative action.
At last count, additional support from at least five Senate Democrats was needed to advance the bill past the Senate filibuster, while Republican leaders maintain their stance, criticizing Democrats for pushing unrelated issues into the budget discussions.
December 1995–January 1996: 21 days
This shutdown was one of two during Clinton’s presidency and broke the previous length record set by earlier conflicts. It followed the Republicans taking control of Congress and their push for substantial budget cuts. The standoff arose due to disagreements between Clinton, who opposed many proposed cuts, and those pushing for reductions in spending. This shutdown primarily affected non-essential services.
Amid negative polling, Republicans sought to end the shutdown quickly, as public sentiment started to turn against them.
September 30, 1978–October 18, 1978: 18 days
This shutdown occurred during Jimmy Carter’s presidency and was notable as the longest in his four years in office. The conflict arose when Carter vetoed defense and public works bills he deemed wasteful. Eventually, a compromise was reached after Congress stripped some contentious funding from the bills.
October 1, 2013–October 17, 2013: 16 days
The 2013 shutdown saw a similar scenario, focusing on Obamacare. At that time, Republicans aimed to eliminate significant portions of the Affordable Care Act, but Democrats in the Senate would not go along with it. In the end, Congress settled on a short-term spending solution, even as Republicans continued to press for cuts to Obamacare funding.
