Complete History of US Government Shutdowns

Since the Modern Budget Process Began in 1976

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

35
Longest shutdown (days)
December 2018 - January 2019
21
Second longest (days)
December 1995 - January 1996
8
Most shutdowns
Ronald Reagan administration
19
Total major shutdowns
Since 1976
7
Years since last shutdown
As of September 2025
800K
Most employees furloughed
November 1995 & October 2013