Complete History of US Government Shutdowns
*Since the Modern Budget Process Began in 1976*
Overview
Note: This list includes funding gaps that resulted in actual government shutdowns with employee furloughs. Since FY1977, there have been 20 funding gaps, though not all resulted in shutdowns. Before 1980, agencies often continued operating during funding gaps.
Carter Administration (1977-1981)
| # | Dates | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 30 - October 11, 1977 | 10 days | Funding dispute over HEW appropriations |
| 2 | October 31 - November 9, 1977 | 8 days | Continued appropriations issues |
| 3 | November 30 - December 9, 1977 | 8 days | Budget disagreements |
| 4 | September 30 - October 18, 1978 | 18 days | Abortion funding disputes |
| 5 | September 30 - October 12, 1979 | 11 days | Public funding for abortions |
Reagan Administration (1981-1989)
| # | Dates | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | November 20-23, 1981 | 2 days | 241,000 federal employees furloughed Reagan vetoed appropriation bill |
| 7 | September 30 - October 2, 1982 | 1 day | Brief funding gap |
| 8 | December 17-21, 1982 | 3 days | Appropriations dispute |
| 9 | November 10-14, 1983 | 3 days | Budget negotiations |
| 10 | September 30 - October 3, 1984 | 1 day | 500,000 federal employees furloughed Water projects and civil rights disputes |
| 11 | October 3-5, 1984 | 1 day | Continued negotiations |
| 12 | October 16-18, 1986 | 1 day | Brief shutdown |
| 13 | December 18-20, 1987 | 1 day | Final Reagan-era shutdown |
Bush Sr. Administration (1989-1993)
| # | Dates | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | October 5-9, 1990 | 3 days | Budget deficit negotiations |
Clinton Administration (1993-2001)
| # | Dates | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | November 13-19, 1995 | 5 days | 800,000 federal workers furloughed Clinton vs. Republican Congress |
| 16 | December 15, 1995 - January 6, 1996 | ** 21 days** | 284,000 federal workers furloughed Second-longest shutdown in history |
Bush Jr. Administration (2001-2009)
No government shutdowns occurred during this administration
Obama Administration (2009-2017)
| # | Dates | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | October 1-16, 2013 | 16 days | 800,000 federal employees furloughed Affordable Care Act disputes |
Trump Administration (2017-2021)
| # | Dates | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | January 20-22, 2018 | 3 days | 692,000 federal workers furloughed DACA and immigration disputes |
| 19 | December 22, 2018 - January 25, 2019 | 35 days | LONGEST SHUTDOWN IN HISTORY 380,000 workers furloughed, 420,000 worked without pay Border wall funding dispute |
Biden Administration (2021-2025)
No government shutdowns occurred during this administration
Trump Administration (2025-present)
No shutdowns have occurred yet
Current Status (September 2025)
A possible federal government shutdown is approaching as congressional lawmakers remain at odds over funding the government beyond September 30, 2025.
Key Statistics
Record Holders
- Longest shutdown: 35 days (December 2018 - January 2019)
- Second longest: 21 days (December 1995 - January 1996)
- Most shutdowns under one president: Ronald Reagan (8 shutdowns)
- Most employees furloughed: 800,000 (November 1995 & October 2013)
Overall Numbers
- Total major shutdowns since 1976: 19
- Years since last shutdown: 7 (as of September 2025)
- Administrations with no shutdowns: Bush Jr., Biden
Presidential Breakdown
| President | Years in Office | Number of Shutdowns | Total Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carter | 1977-1981 | 5 | 55 days |
| Reagan | 1981-1989 | 8 | 13 days |
| Bush Sr. | 1989-1993 | 1 | 3 days |
| Clinton | 1993-2001 | 2 | 26 days |
| Bush Jr. | 2001-2009 | 0 | 0 days |
| Obama | 2009-2017 | 1 | 16 days |
| Trump | 2017-2021 | 2 | 38 days |
| Biden | 2021-2025 | 0 | 0 days |
| Trump | 2025-present | 0 | 0 days |
Timeline Summary
1970s-1980s: The Early Era
- Most shutdowns were brief (1-3 days)
- Carter administration had the most individual shutdowns (5)
- Reagan era included 8 shutdowns but totaling only 13 days
1990s: The Major Shutdowns
- Two significant shutdowns under Clinton
- The 21-day shutdown (1995-1996) was the longest until 2018
2000s-2010s: Rare but Significant
- Only one major shutdown (2013) lasting 16 days
- Bush Jr. administration avoided any shutdowns
2010s-Present: Modern Record
- 2018-2019 shutdown became the longest in US history at 35 days
- Recent years have seen fewer but longer shutdowns
Impact Notes
Economic Effects
- The 2018-2019 shutdown resulted in a $3 billion loss in economic growth that was not recovered
- Each week of a federal shutdown costs the U.S. economy approximately $6 billion
Employee Impact
- Federal employees receive retroactive pay after shutdowns end (guaranteed since 2019)
- Essential employees (military, law enforcement, air traffic control) continue working without pay during shutdowns
- Non-essential employees are furloughed and cannot work
Services Affected
- National parks and museums typically close
- Passport processing may be delayed
- Small business loan processing stops
- Food safety inspections reduced
- Social Security and Medicare payments continue (mandatory spending)
Data compiled from Congressional Research Service reports, Government Accountability Office records, and official government sources. Last updated: September 2025