how long will the government shut down last

The length of a U.S. government shutdown varies, but historically the average duration has been nearly eight days. Shutdowns can be very brief, lasting only a few hours, or extended. The longest shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019 during President Trump's first term. The duration depends on how quickly Congress reaches an agreement on government funding. Currently, the U.S. government has shut down as of October 1, 2025, due to a failure to pass a funding agreement between the White House under President Donald Trump and Congress. The length of this shutdown will depend on ongoing negotiations, but past shutdowns suggest it could last from days to several weeks unless a deal is reached soon. The political environment is divided, making a rapid resolution uncertain. In summary, government shutdowns typically last from a few days to over a month, with the current shutdown duration unknown but potentially prolonged given political complexities.