The current funding lapse has reached a regrettable milestone, becoming the second-longest government shutdown in United States history.
The shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, crossed the 21-day mark on October 22, surpassing the previous second-longest shutdown, which occurred under President Bill Clinton from late 1995 to early 1996.
This new second-place record highlights the deep partisan stalemate over federal spending priorities. The failure of Congress and the White House to agree on appropriations has led to widespread disruption, furloughing hundreds of thousands of federal employees and forcing many essential personnel to work without guaranteed pay.
The current shutdown is now eclipsed only by the longest government shutdown in U.S. history: the 35-day funding lapse that occurred from late 2018 to early 2019 during the Trump administration, a standoff centered primarily on border wall funding. As the current political impasse continues, concerns are mounting over the long-term economic damage and the impact on critical government services.