EXPLAINERNews|Donald TrumpA history of US government shutdowns: Every closure and how long it lastedThe US government has had 20 funding gaps, resulting in 10 shutdowns since 1976, the longest lasting 35 days.

The United States federal government shut down at 12:01 am East Coast time (04:01 GMT) on Wednesday following the failure of Congress to pass a new spending bill, leading to the closure of operations deemed nonessential.

A government shutdown occurs when Congress does not agree on a budget, which results in the closure of parts of the federal government until a spending plan is approved. Shutdowns typically occur in October, coinciding with the start of the government’s fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30.

Historical Context of Government Shutdowns

The existing budget process, established in 1976, has seen 20 funding gaps, leading to 10 shutdowns. A funding gap arises when Congress fails to meet the deadline to pass a budget or a stopgap spending bill, leaving the government without legal authority to disburse funds.

Multiple funding gaps can occur within a single shutdown if temporary funding measures expire before reaching a long-term agreement. A shutdown only transpires if government operations cease due to the funding gap.

Before the 1980s, funding gaps rarely resulted in shutdowns, with agencies continuing operations under the assumption of imminent funding restoration. However, legal opinions issued by Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti in 1980 clarified that federal law prohibits agencies from spending money without congressional approval, allowing only essential services to continue.

Since 1982, this legal framework has led to funding gaps more frequently causing full or partial government shutdowns until Congress resolves the budgetary impasse.

The last government shutdown occurred from December 2018 to January 2019, during a budgetary disagreement between President Donald Trump and Democratic politicians over a $5 billion funding request for a US-Mexico border wall.

During a shutdown, nonessential federal services are halted or reduced, and many government employees are furloughed without pay. Essential personnel, including military service members, law enforcement officers, and air traffic controllers, continue working, often without pay until funding is restored.

Shutdowns are typically resolved through the passage of a continuing resolution, which provides temporary funding while negotiations for a longer-term budget persist. Since 1990, each shutdown has concluded with the enactment of such a resolution.

A shutdown primarily impacts nonessential federal employees and those reliant on government services. The federal government, as the nation’s largest employer, employed over 3 million workers as of November, representing approximately 1.9% of the civilian workforce.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that a funding lapse in fiscal year 2026 could result in the furlough of about 750,000 federal employees per day, with lost pay amounting to approximately $400 million daily. The exact number of furloughed workers may vary as some agencies adjust layoffs or recall employees based on the shutdown’s duration.

Past shutdowns have affected various services and agencies, including:

National parks and monuments Federal museums Federal research projects Processing of certain government benefits IRS taxpayer services

Despite a shutdown, many core government functions remain operational. Some continue due to their classification as essential for public safety and welfare, while others are funded independently of the annual budget process through mandatory or self-sustaining programs. These services include:

Social Security and Medicare benefits The military and federal law enforcement US Postal Service Air traffic control US Passport Agency

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.