Longest shutdowns in U.S. history

President Trump has signed legislation ending the longest government
shutdown in U.S. history, after the House of Representatives voted to
restore salaries for hundreds of thousands of federal employees

50 YEARS OF U.S. APPROPRIATIONS FUNDING GAPS

Year
Sitting president
Duration (days)

2025
2018*
2018
2018
2013
1995*
1995
1990
1987
1986
1984
1984
1983
1982
1982
1981
1979
1978
1977
1977
1977
1976

Trump
Trump
Trump
Trump
Obama
Clinton
Clinton
Bush
Reagan
Reagan
Reagan
Reagan
Reagan
Reagan
Reagan
Reagan
Carter
Carter
Carter
Carter
Carter
Ford

43
35
1
3
16
21
5
3
1
1
1
2
3
3
1
2
11
17
8
8
12
10

Republican

Democrat

Shutdown
avoided†

Nov 12,
2025: Trump
signs bill ending
shutdown

*Continued into following year. †Prior to 1980, it was accepted practice for federal agencies to keep on
operating during funding gaps. Some funding gaps after 1982 occurred over weekend or were too short
for affected agencies to begin shutdown procedures before Congress restored funding

Sources: Statista, Library of Congress, USAFacts
Picture: Getty Images
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