Nournews: A shutdown occurs when the U.S. Congress fails to pass budget legislation to fund federal operations. In such cases, non-essential government activities are suspended, and many employees are either furloughed or temporarily laid off.
The first major shutdown in modern U.S. history occurred in November 1981, during Ronald Reagan’s presidency, and lasted only two days. Since then, the United States has experienced at least 15 major shutdowns, which together have halted government operations for a total of about 97 days.
The longest shutdown to date took place between December 2018 and January 2019 under Donald Trump’s administration. It lasted 35 days and is estimated to have reduced the U.S. GDP by roughly $3 billion.
The second-longest occurred during Bill Clinton’s presidency, lasting 21 days from late 1995 to early 1996.
Before the 1990s, most “funding gaps” merely caused short delays in passing budget laws and had little effect on government functions. However, starting in the early 1980s, new legal interpretations emphasized that the government could not continue non-essential activities without official funding—marking the beginning of true shutdowns.
On October 1, 2025, the federal government entered its latest shutdown. While there is still no clear end in sight, some analysts warn that if the stalemate continues, this shutdown could even surpass the 35-day record.
As of this report, the closure has entered its second week, with an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 federal employees currently on furlough.
If Congress and the Senate fail to reach an agreement soon, both the economic and political costs will rise — including slower economic growth, disruption of public services, and mounting pressure on government workers.
In conclusion, history shows that government shutdowns in the U.S. are temporary yet serious crises. This year, all eyes are on lawmakers to see whether a new record is on the horizon.
NOURNEWS