HISTORICAL REFERENCE

Historical Government Shutdowns

A chronological reference to major U.S. federal funding lapses and shutdown periods. Entries are presented from newest to oldest.

Duration Comparison

2026 Jan–Feb
4d
2026 Feb–Apr
76d
2025
43d
2018–19
35d
2013
16d
1995–96
21d
1990
3d
1981
4d
2026 · January – February

2026 Funding Gap

4 days

A short partial funding lapse during the final appropriations process.

Agencies Some
Congress 119th
Employees Unknown
Cost Unknown
2026 · February – April

2026 DHS Funding Lapse

76 days

A partial funding lapse affecting the Department of Homeland Security according to the historical record currently displayed by Shutdown Tracker.

Agencies DHS
Congress 119th
Employees Unknown
Cost Unknown
2025

2025 Federal Shutdown

43 days

A federal funding lapse following an appropriations impasse.

Agencies All
Congress 119th
Furloughed 900,000
Cost $11 billion
2018 – 2019

35-Day Federal Shutdown

35 days

A prolonged appropriations lapse during the 115th and 116th Congresses.

Agencies Some
Congress 115th / 116th
Furloughed 380,000
Cost $5 billion
2018 · January

January 2018 Shutdown

3 days

A short federal funding lapse during appropriations negotiations.

Agencies All
Congress 115th
Furloughed 692,900
Cost Unknown
2013

2013 Federal Shutdown

16 days

A federal funding lapse during the 113th Congress.

Agencies All
Congress 113th
Furloughed 800,000
Cost $2.1 billion
1995 – 1996

1995–96 Shutdowns

21 days

A series of funding lapses during the 104th Congress.

Agencies Some
Congress 104th
Furloughed 284,000
Cost $400 million

Historical figures should be reviewed against the underlying cited sources when used for research or publication. The live Shutdown Tracker page currently attributes historical records primarily to Wikipedia and USAFacts.