A U.S. federal government shutdown can last as long as Congress fails to pass funding legislation. Historically, shutdowns have lasted from just a few hours to several weeks, with the longest shutdown lasting 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019. Typically, a shutdown continues until lawmakers reach an agreement on a budget or temporary funding measure.
Shutdowns occur when appropriations are not approved by the deadline, causing nonessential federal services to halt, while essential services continue operating. The duration depends on political negotiations and legislative compromises, and past shutdowns averaged about 8 days, although many are shorter or longer based on the political context.
In summary, there is no fixed maximum length for a government shutdown; it lasts until the government is funded again, with past shutdowns ranging from hours to over a month, the record being 35 days.
