A government shutdown in the United States lasts until Congress passes and the President signs appropriations legislation to fund the government. Historically, shutdowns have ranged from a few hours to the longest, which lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019. On average, shutdowns last about eight days, but the exact duration depends on how quickly political agreements can be reached to restore funding.
Shutdown Duration Factors
- Shutdowns occur when federal funding legislation is not enacted before the start of a fiscal year or when current funding expires.
- The duration varies based on political negotiations and can be short or prolonged, with the 2018-2019 shutdown being the longest at 35 days.
- Most shutdowns last less than two weeks, with an average of nearly eight days since 1977.
Recent Shutdown History
- The longest shutdown occurred in 2018-2019, lasting 35 days.
- Shutdowns disrupt many services, furloughing non-essential workers until funding is restored.
- Essential services continue to operate during shutdowns.
In summary, a U.S. government shutdown lasts as long as it takes for Congress and the President to finalize and approve new funding legislation, ranging from hours to over a month, with an average duration of about eight days historically.
