The duration of a government shutdown in the United States varies widely and depends on how quickly Congress and the President reach an agreement to fund the government. Historically, shutdowns have lasted from just a few hours or days to as long as 35 days. The longest shutdown lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, during which many federal workers were furloughed and government services were significantly disrupted. Other shutdowns have been much shorter, ranging from one day to several weeks. Currently, a potential shutdown is imminent if no deal is reached by midnight on October 1, 2025. The actual length of this shutdown will depend on political negotiations, which remain uncertain as of now. Past shutdowns have shown that resolutions can sometimes be achieved within days or weeks, but prolonged stalemates are also possible depending on the political climate and specific issues at play.
