How long past government shutdowns have lasted
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The federal government officially shut down after Republicans and Democrats failed to settle their funding standoff before the end of September.
The big picture: It's the first shutdown since the record 35-day closure that began in 2018 during President Trump's first term.
- House Republicans passed a short-term funding extension earlier this month, but it fell short of the 60 Senate votes needed to keep the government running through Nov. 21.
- Democrats held firm, pushing their healthcare policy goals to extend tax credits to lower insurance costs and reverse Medicaid cuts.
Catch up quick: The government has failed to pass a spending bill on time on 21 previous occasions, though in several of those cases the funding gaps were resolved within two days, or even before any federal workers had to be furloughed.
- Trump backed down on demands for border wall funding in order to bring the 2018-2019 shutdown to a close.
History of government shutdowns
Before 2018, the longest shutdown lasted 21 days, from 1995 to 1996, under then-President Bill Clinton, who was at an impasse with House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
- Funding for abortion procedures — in particular whether and how to allow Medicaid to pay for them — was part of the reason for three shutdowns during former President Jimmy Carter's presidency.
- Meanwhile, former President Ronald Reagan saw a record eight government shutdowns during his time in office, often over spending on domestic versus defense matters.
- Republican opposition to the Affordable Care Act was the primary cause of a 2013 shutdown under former President Barack Obama.
What shuts down, and what doesn't
- Federal workers are most directly impacted by a shutdown. In 2018-2019, 420,000 federal employees were required to work without pay while about another 380,000 were furloughed without pay. Both sets of workers were paid retroactively.
- The 2019 shutdown offered a preview of how air travel may be disrupted for future shutdowns, when an unprecedented number of unpaid TSA agents and air traffic controllers called out sick, resulting in longer wait times and cancellations and delays.
- Most government benefits — such as Social Security or SNAP food aid — would not be stopped altogether due to a shutdown, but it could have led to delays in enrolling for or even receiving benefits.
Yes, but: OMB has advised agencies to prepare for permanent cuts during a shutdown — in line with the president's top priorities — leaving non-essential federal employees on edge about their jobs.
Go deeper: Musk's shutdown power play
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the latest figures and congressional and presidential actions.
