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The Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History: What Really Happened?

Ever had your paycheck suddenly stop without warning? Imagine that happening to hundreds of thousands of people at once—that’s exactly what goes down during a government shutdown. And the longest government shutdown in U.S. history was one for the record books. What Is a Government Shutdown, Anyway? Before we dive into the “longest ever,” let’s back up. A government shutdown happens when Congress and the President can’t agree on funding the federal government. Without that agreement, non-essential services are put on pause. Essential workers—think TSA agents, Coast Guard, and air traffic controllers—still have to show up. The catch? They often work without pay until the shutdown ends. Shutdowns have happened quite a few times since the 1970s, but one stands out above the rest. How Long Was the Longest Government Shutdown? The longest government shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days , from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019 . This standoff was between President Donald Trump...

When Trump Shuts Down Washington: The 2025 Government Shutdown You Should Know

Hey — have you seen the buzz about the Trump government shutdown 2025 ? I was checking the news this morning and realized: this one might be different than the shutdowns we’ve seen before. Let’s dig into how we got here and what’s really at stake. What Exactly Is a Government Shutdown? A government shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass funding (i.e. appropriations) for the next fiscal year by the deadline (October 1 for the U.S.). When that happens: Non-essential federal agencies must stop operations (or pause many of their services). Essential services (like the military, air traffic control, Social Security) usually keep running. Past shutdowns have closed national parks, delayed federal permits, and frozen some public services. But the 2025 version may push the envelope further than typical shutdowns. How Did We Get to This Point? Congressional Deadlock & Policy Fights Trump (who is now in office again) and congressional Republicans want big spending ...