50 years of
1976-2025
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS
Since 1976, there have been 10 government shutdowns from , amounting to 97 days of suspended federal operations. Here are six major ones.
1970
20 10
1976
2013
OBAMACARE BATTLE
THE FIRST SHUTDOWN
Sept. 30–Oct. 11, 1976 10 DAYS
Oct. 1–17, 2013 16 DAYS
1981
2018
Reagan’s Budget Clash
LONGEST IN HISTORY
Nov. 20–23, 1981 3 DAYS
Dec. 22, 2018–Jan. 25, 2019 36 DAYS
2025
1990
2020
THE CURRENT SHUTDOWN
1996
Oct. 1, 2025–present
THE Clinton Standoff
Nov. 14–19, 1995 & Dec. 16, 1995–Jan. 6, 1996 26 DAYS
SOURCE: NPR
www.loremipsum.com
The Longest in History
Dec. 22, 2018–Jan. 25, 2019
A 35-day partial shutdown over border wall funding became the longest in U.S. history. Roughly 800,000 workers missed two paychecks, airports faced delays, and federal contractors lost billions. Economic losses totaled more than $11 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The Current Shutdown
Oct. 1, 2025–present
The ongoing shutdown began after Congress failed to pass a budget before the fiscal deadline. More than 620,000 federal employees are furloughed, and agencies including the FAA and USDA have suspended many operations. Local economies near Washington, D.C., such as McLean, are already feeling the financial ripple effects as paychecks stop and services freeze.
The First Shutdown
Sept. 30–Oct. 11, 1976
The first modern government shutdown occurred in 1976 after President Gerald Ford vetoed a funding bill for the Department of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare. The nine-day gap delayed federal grants and temporarily halted services. Although not widely considered a full shutdown of the government, it set the precedent for how future budget standoffs would trigger agency closures.
The Obamacare Battle
Oct. 1–17, 2013
A 16-day shutdown erupted after House Republicans sought to delay the Affordable Care Act. About 850,000 federal workers were furloughed, and national parks, NASA, and IRS operations were largely halted. The shutdown reduced GDP growth and cost the U.S. economy an estimated $24 billion.
Reagan’s Budget Clash
Nov. 20–23, 1981
In November 1981, President Ronald Reagan’s dispute with Congress over domestic spending cuts caused a two-day shutdown. Roughly 241,000 federal employees were furloughed, and many services, including national parks and visa processing, were suspended. The brief shutdown cost taxpayers tens of millions in back pay.
Clinton–Gingrich Standoff
Nov. 20–23, 1981
The government shut down twice between November 1995 and January 1996, lasting a combined 26 days. The conflict between President Bill Clinton and Speaker Newt Gingrich centered on Medicare, education, and environmental funding. Federal offices, museums, and parks closed, costing an estimated $1.4 billion in lost productivity.
Gov Shutdown
Julius Li
Created on October 10, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Practical Timeline
View
Timeline video mobile
View
Timeline Lines Mobile
View
Major Religions Timeline
View
Timeline Flipcard
View
Timeline video
View
History Timeline
Explore all templates
Transcript
50 years of
1976-2025
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS
Since 1976, there have been 10 government shutdowns from , amounting to 97 days of suspended federal operations. Here are six major ones.
1970
20 10
1976
2013
OBAMACARE BATTLE
THE FIRST SHUTDOWN
Sept. 30–Oct. 11, 1976 10 DAYS
Oct. 1–17, 2013 16 DAYS
1981
2018
Reagan’s Budget Clash
LONGEST IN HISTORY
Nov. 20–23, 1981 3 DAYS
Dec. 22, 2018–Jan. 25, 2019 36 DAYS
2025
1990
2020
THE CURRENT SHUTDOWN
1996
Oct. 1, 2025–present
THE Clinton Standoff
Nov. 14–19, 1995 & Dec. 16, 1995–Jan. 6, 1996 26 DAYS
SOURCE: NPR
www.loremipsum.com
The Longest in History
Dec. 22, 2018–Jan. 25, 2019
A 35-day partial shutdown over border wall funding became the longest in U.S. history. Roughly 800,000 workers missed two paychecks, airports faced delays, and federal contractors lost billions. Economic losses totaled more than $11 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
The Current Shutdown
Oct. 1, 2025–present
The ongoing shutdown began after Congress failed to pass a budget before the fiscal deadline. More than 620,000 federal employees are furloughed, and agencies including the FAA and USDA have suspended many operations. Local economies near Washington, D.C., such as McLean, are already feeling the financial ripple effects as paychecks stop and services freeze.
The First Shutdown
Sept. 30–Oct. 11, 1976
The first modern government shutdown occurred in 1976 after President Gerald Ford vetoed a funding bill for the Department of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare. The nine-day gap delayed federal grants and temporarily halted services. Although not widely considered a full shutdown of the government, it set the precedent for how future budget standoffs would trigger agency closures.
The Obamacare Battle
Oct. 1–17, 2013
A 16-day shutdown erupted after House Republicans sought to delay the Affordable Care Act. About 850,000 federal workers were furloughed, and national parks, NASA, and IRS operations were largely halted. The shutdown reduced GDP growth and cost the U.S. economy an estimated $24 billion.
Reagan’s Budget Clash
Nov. 20–23, 1981
In November 1981, President Ronald Reagan’s dispute with Congress over domestic spending cuts caused a two-day shutdown. Roughly 241,000 federal employees were furloughed, and many services, including national parks and visa processing, were suspended. The brief shutdown cost taxpayers tens of millions in back pay.
Clinton–Gingrich Standoff
Nov. 20–23, 1981
The government shut down twice between November 1995 and January 1996, lasting a combined 26 days. The conflict between President Bill Clinton and Speaker Newt Gingrich centered on Medicare, education, and environmental funding. Federal offices, museums, and parks closed, costing an estimated $1.4 billion in lost productivity.