Government Shutdown History Timeline: Every US Shutdown Since 1976

The United States is one of the few countries in the world that experiences government shutdowns. Most parliamentary democracies have automatic continuing resolutions or caretaker provisions that prevent funding gaps from halting government operations. In the U.S., shutdowns have become an increasingly common feature of fiscal brinksmanship, with three occurring in 2025-2026 alone.

This article provides a complete history of every federal government shutdown and funding gap since 1976, the legal framework that makes shutdowns possible, the economic consequences, and how each shutdown ended. For live tracking of the current situation, see our Government Shutdown Tracker.

How Government Shutdowns Became Possible

The Antideficiency Act

The Antideficiency Act, originally enacted in 1870 and significantly amended in 1950 and 1982, prohibits federal agencies from spending money without a congressional appropriation. Penalties for violations include termination, fines up to $5,000, and imprisonment up to two years -- though no one has ever been prosecuted under the Act.

The Civiletti Opinions: Inventing the Shutdown

Before 1980, funding gaps did not trigger shutdowns. Six gaps occurred between 1977 and 1980, ranging from 8 to 17 days, but agencies simply continued operating on the assumption funding would be restored. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti changed everything with two legal opinions:

• April 25, 1980: Agencies "may obligate no further funds except as necessary to bring about the orderly termination" of functions during a funding gap.
• January 18, 1981: Agencies may continue work with "a reasonable and articulable connection between the function to be performed and the safety of human life or the protection of property." This created the "essential" vs. "non-essential" worker distinction.

The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 also plays a role, limiting the president's ability to impound (withhold) funds Congress has appropriated.

Complete Timeline: Every Shutdown and Funding Gap

Pre-Civiletti Funding Gaps (1976-1979)

These gaps did not trigger furloughs. Agencies continued operating normally.

The Reagan Era (1981-1986)

The first shutdowns under the new Civiletti interpretation were brief and limited in scope.

1990: The Budget Deal Breakdown

The October 5-9, 1990 shutdown (3 days, 2,800 furloughed) occurred when President George H.W. Bush and Congress failed to agree on deficit reduction. Bush had famously pledged "read my lips: no new taxes" and the eventual deal that reopened the government included tax increases, contributing to his 1992 re-election loss.

1995-1996: Clinton vs. Gingrich

The most politically consequential shutdowns before the modern era occurred under President Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

First shutdown (November 14-19, 1995): 5 days, 800,000 workers furloughed. Republicans sought to slow government spending growth, cut taxes, shift Medicaid to states, and reduce education and environmental spending. Clinton vetoed their budget proposals.

Second shutdown (December 16, 1995 - January 6, 1996): 21 days, 280,000 furloughed. At the time, this was the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Republicans accepted Clinton's budget after polls showed the public blamed them: a 1995 ABC News poll had 46% blaming Republicans vs. 27% blaming Clinton. The shutdowns cemented the political dynamic that would repeat for decades -- the party perceived as causing the shutdown tends to bear the electoral cost.

2013: The Affordable Care Act Standoff

The October 1-17, 2013 shutdown lasted 16 days and furloughed 800,000 federal employees. House Republicans refused to fund the government unless the Affordable Care Act was defunded or dismantled. The ACA's health insurance exchanges launched on schedule on October 1 because ACA funding was outside the annual appropriations process.

Standard & Poor's estimated the shutdown cost approximately $24 billion total. The CBO estimated $3 billion in back pay for furloughed workers plus $2 billion in lost tax revenues. Congress passed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2014 on October 16 and Obama signed it shortly after midnight on October 17.

January 2018: The DACA Shutdown

A 2-3 day shutdown (January 20-22, 2018) occurred when Senate Democrats blocked a continuing resolution to pressure action on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Approximately 692,900 workers were furloughed. Democrats agreed to reopen government after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised to open debate on immigration in February.

2018-2019: The Border Wall Shutdown (35 Days)

The December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019 shutdown lasted 35 days -- then the longest in U.S. history. President Trump demanded $5.7 billion for a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Nine executive departments partially or fully shut down, affecting 800,000 employees: 420,000 essential workers continued without pay while 380,000 were furloughed.

The CBO estimated the shutdown cost at least $11 billion, with $3 billion permanently lost. During this shutdown, the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 was signed on January 16, guaranteeing back pay for all furloughed workers during this and any future shutdown. Trump ultimately reopened the government without wall funding and later declared a national emergency to redirect military construction funds.

2025: The New Record -- 43 Days

The October 1 to November 12, 2025 shutdown became the longest in U.S. history at 43 days. The GOP-led House passed a measure to keep government running through November 21, but it failed in the Senate where Democrats pushed for an extension of expiring health insurance tax credits.

Approximately 750,000 workers were furloughed daily and 1.4 million essential workers continued without pay. SNAP benefits froze on November 1, affecting 42 million Americans. The CBO estimated the shutdown reduced Q4 GDP by roughly $18 billion, with $7-14 billion permanently lost. Senate Democrats crossed the aisle on November 12 to vote to reopen government until late January in exchange for a separate vote on health insurance credits.

2026: Multiple Shutdowns

Two additional shutdowns have occurred in 2026:

• January 31 - February 3, 2026 (4 days): Half of federal departments affected. Caused by delays in approving a funding package allowing time for immigration reform negotiations.
• February 14 - ongoing (DHS only): DHS funding expired after lawmakers left for recess without a deal on immigration enforcement reform, triggered by the shooting death of Alex Pretti by CBP agents in Minneapolis. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry were suspended February 22.

Economic Impact of Major Shutdowns

On average, roughly 650,000 employees are furloughed each week of a shutdown at a cost of about $4 billion per week in delayed wages. Most lost economic activity is recovered when the government reopens because workers receive back pay. But some losses are permanent: canceled flights, missed restaurant meals, postponed purchases, destroyed scientific studies, and deferred maintenance.

What Happens During a Shutdown

Services That Stop or Are Curtailed

• National parks and monuments close or reduce operations
• New passport and visa processing is delayed
• Federal court operations are limited
• FDA food inspections are reduced
• IRS tax refunds are delayed
• Small Business Administration stops processing loan applications
• SNAP benefits freeze in prolonged shutdowns (as seen in 2025 after 30 days)
• Scientific research is halted

Services That Continue

• Social Security checks (mandatory spending, not subject to annual appropriations)
• Medicare and Medicaid (mandatory spending)
• U.S. Postal Service (self-funded)
• Active duty military, federal law enforcement, TSA, air traffic controllers
• VA hospitals and federal medical facilities

Shutdown vs. Debt Ceiling Crisis

How Shutdowns End

Shutdowns can only end when Congress passes and the president signs new funding legislation. The two main mechanisms are:

• Continuing resolutions (CRs): Temporary stopgap measures that typically continue funding at the prior year's levels. The October 1 deadline to enact all 12 appropriation bills has not been met since fiscal year 1997.
• Full-year appropriations bills: Congress is supposed to pass 12 individual bills each year (sometimes combined into "omnibus" packages). These set actual funding levels for each department.

The typical pattern: shutdown begins, public pressure builds, polls assign blame, the losing side capitulates, a CR passes, and the underlying dispute is deferred.