The U.S. government shutdown that ended November 12, 2025 broke the record previously held by the 2018-2019 shutdown. How long was that one?

The United States federal government shutdown that occurred from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, spanned a total of 35 days. This made it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history at the time. The primary catalyst for this prolonged stoppage was a contentious disagreement between then-President Donald Trump and Congress regarding funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. President Trump demanded $5.7 billion for the wall's construction, a request that faced strong opposition from Democrats.

The impasse meant that Congress failed to pass several appropriations bills, leaving a quarter of government activities unfunded. As a result, roughly 800,000 federal employees were directly impacted. Approximately 380,000 workers were furloughed, meaning they were sent home without pay, while another 420,000 "essential" employees, such as TSA agents and Coast Guard personnel, were required to work without immediate compensation. This situation created significant financial hardship for many families and led to disruptions in various government services, from national park closures to delays in processing small business loans and tax refunds.

The economic ramifications were substantial. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the shutdown cost the American economy at least $11 billion, including an estimated $3 billion in permanent losses that were never recovered. Beyond the direct financial costs, there were indirect impacts, such as reduced consumer confidence and strains on businesses relying on federal contracts or services. The shutdown finally ended when President Trump agreed to a temporary funding measure that did not include the wall funding, allowing negotiations to continue.