The U.S. government has experienced 20 funding gaps resulting in 10 shutdowns since 1976. Shutdowns occur when Congress fails to agree on a budget or temporary spending bill, causing the federal government to cease certain non- essential operations until funding is restored. These shutdowns are more frequent in recent decades but remain relatively rare overall. Notably, the longest shutdown lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019. Shutdowns often coincide with the start of the federal fiscal year on October 1. The most recent shutdown began on October 1, 2025—the first in six years—after funding bills failed in the Senate.
In summary, shutdowns happen irregularly but typically every few years, often triggered by budget disagreements in Congress, with a total of 10 shutdowns since 1976.
