how long will government shut down last

The length of a government shutdown in the United States can vary widely depending on the political negotiations and agreements reached in Congress. Historically, shutdowns have lasted anywhere from a single day to over a month. For instance, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019. Currently, the U.S. government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, following a failure of Congress to pass a funding bill. Senators are leaving town until at least Friday, so the shutdown is likely to last at least three days, but it may extend longer depending on how quickly a funding agreement is reached. Previous shutdowns have ended once Congress agreed on a funding measure, which can take days or weeks depending on the political climate and negotiations.