The Longest Government Shutdown in US History Lasted 35 Days

The partial government shutdown that began in December 2018 and stretched into the new year was a result of a stalemate over funding for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. This impasse between the President and Congress led to a lapse in appropriations for about a quarter of the federal government. Consequently, nine executive departments were impacted, and roughly 800,000 federal employees were either furloughed or required to work without pay. The economic cost was significant, with an estimated $11 billion loss to the nation's GDP, $3 billion of which was permanently lost.

The real-world consequences were felt across the country. National parks, though many remained accessible, suffered from a lack of staff, leading to overflowing trash, sanitation issues, and damage to natural resources. Beyond the parks, the shutdown had a cascading effect on various government services. For instance, the Food and Drug Administration had to suspend routine inspections, and thousands of immigration court hearings were canceled, adding to an already existing backlog.

Historically, government shutdowns are a relatively recent phenomenon in the United States, with the first one occurring in 1980. They happen when Congress fails to pass the necessary spending bills to fund government operations. This is rooted in the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending money without congressional appropriation. While there had been funding gaps before 1980, a legal opinion from the Attorney General at the time established the modern precedent of halting non-essential government functions during such lapses.