The Longest Government Shutdowns in U.S. History—and Where This One Ranks

The government shutdown still has no clear endpoint in sight as lawmakers remain deadlocked entering the weekend. But it’s already poised to become one of the longest in the country’s history. The shutdown began on Oct. 1, and the Senate isn’t set to vote on the issue again until Oct. 14. By that point, this shutdown would rank as the fifth longest one the U.S. has ever seen. Here’s what to know about the five previous shutdowns that currently hold the top spots. Dec. 21, 2018 to Jan. 25, 2019: 34 days The last government shutdown was also the longest in U.S. history, lasting 34 days. It occurred during President Donald Trump’s first term. The partial shutdown was sparked by disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over the $5.7 billion the President had requested to fund the construction of a wall along the U.S-Mexico border. At the start of the shutdown, Republicans held majorities in both the House and the Senate, but were unable to muster the 60 votes needed to get a spending bill through the upper chamber without Democrats crossing party lines. After the new year, with the shutdown still ongoing, Democrats took control of the House.  The shutdown ultimately ended when Trump agreed to a temporary deal to fund the government until Feb. 15, 2019 that didn’t include money for the wall. In the days before the February deadline, a revised bill was passed, which did include funding for the barrier—but notably less than the President had requested, at $1.4 billion. Dec. 15, 1995 to Jan. 6, 1996: 21 days Before the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, the previous record-holder for the longest in U.S. history took place under former President Bill Clinton. The shutdown, which lasted for 21 days, unfolded because Clinton and Republicans disagreed over how to balance the nation’s budget. Republicans, who held majorities in both chambers of Congress at the time, wanted to roll back social programs and rescind Clinton’s 1993 tax increase. The shutdown ended after Republicans agreed to a compromise that Clinton proposed. Sept. 30, 1978 to Oct. 18, 1978: 17 days Former President Jimmy Carter was in office for just four years, but that single term included multiple government shutdowns that extended for over a week each—including the third longest one in U.S. history.  That shutdown occurred in 1978, as Carter’s second year as president was nearing an end. Democrats held majorities in both the Senate and the House. The government closed for 17 days because of several disagreements, including over funding for abortion. Carter also vetoed a defense spending bill that included funding for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that he considered to be wasteful. The government reopened after legislation was passed that didn’t include funding for the aircraft carrier, or for water projects that Carter opposed on similar grounds. A previously agreed upon compromise on abortion, which allowed for funding in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the pregnant person’s health, was maintained. Sept. 30, 2013 to Oct. 17, 2013: 16 days Partisan divisions over the Affordable Care Act, which Democrats passed in 2010 without any Republican votes, became a defining issue in national politics for the remainder of former President Barack Obama’s time in the White House and ultimately led to a 16-day shutdown months into his second term. Republicans, who controlled the House, rejected a spending bill that funded the landmark healthcare law in 2013. Obama and Democrats, who held a majority in the Senate, pushed back on Republican-led proposals. The government ultimately reopened because of bipartisan Senate negotiations that led to small changes to the Affordable Care Act. Sept. 30, 1977 to Oct. 13, 1977: 12 days Exactly a year before 1978’s 17-day shutdown began, the government shuttered for 12 days in the first year of Carter’s presidency.  The 1977 shutdown, which held the record for the longest in U.S. history for just 12 months, was sparked by disagreements over whether Medicaid should fund abortion care. Democrats held majorities in both chambers of Congress.