Longest U.S. Government Shutdown & What’s Happening Now

Shutdown Hits: The U.S. government shut down at midnight, Oct. 1 as the new fiscal year began.

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Why It Happened: Congress couldn’t agree on funding plans, halting federal operations.

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Who’s Affected: Non-essential workers are furloughed without pay — some may even lose jobs.

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Record Shutdown: The longest ever lasted 35 days (Dec 2018–Jan 2019) under Trump.

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Then vs. Now: Back then, it was all about the border wall; this one's healthcare and budget slashes.

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Big Loss: It cost the U.S. $3B in GDP, says the CBO.

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History Check: Since 1976 — 20 funding gaps, 10 shutdowns.

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How Long This Time? Most fizzle in days, but this one's already on day 13—fifth longest ever.

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What’s Next: Senate's back Tuesday (Oct. 14) for another vote push; odds look slim for a quick fix. Fingers crossed it ends soon.

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