how often do government shutdowns happen

Government shutdowns in the United States happen when Congress fails to pass appropriations for the new fiscal year before the prior fiscal year expires on September 30. Since 1976, there have been 21 federal government shutdowns. However, they have become less frequent in recent decades, with six occurring since 1990. The last government shutdown occurred in late 2018 and lasted 35 days, making it the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The most recent potential shutdown was approaching as of early October 2025 after nearly seven years without one. Overall, shutdowns tend to happen sporadically, often due to political disagreements over budget allocation, and they are not an annual or regularly scheduled event. The timing and frequency depend largely on Congressional and executive branch negotiations. Shutdowns generally happen during a fiscal year's transition if funding agreements are not reached in time.