The length of a U.S. government shutdown varies depending on when Congress reaches an agreement to approve funding. Historically, there have been 21 federal government shutdowns totaling 121 days since 1977, averaging almost eight days per shutdown. Some shutdowns have lasted only a few hours, while the longest shutdown lasted 35 days—from December 2018 to January 2019, during President Donald Trump's first term. A shutdown continues until Congress passes the necessary appropriations or a temporary funding bill that the President signs into law. Until then, nonessential government operations are halted, and many federal employees are furloughed, though essential services remain operational.
