The U.S. federal government has experienced around 20 to 21 shutdowns since 1976. Shutdowns now occur relatively infrequently but tend to happen when Congress fails to pass budget legislation or continuing resolutions by the deadline. Shutdowns have happened about a dozen times since 1990, with some periods (like 1995 to 2013) without any shutdowns. The longest shutdown lasted 35 days, from December 2018 to January 2019. Shutdowns tend to occur due to political disagreements over spending bills, and the frequency varies depending on the political climate and legislative priorities. The most recent shutdown started on October 1, 2025, marking the first in about six years.
