US Government Shutdown Statistics 2025 | Facts on US Shutdown

Government Shutdown in the US 2025

The United States federal government entered a shutdown at precisely 12:01 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, marking the first funding lapse in six years since the historic 35-day shutdown that stretched from December 2018 through January 2019. This latest crisis emerged when lawmakers in both chambers of Congress failed to reach a bipartisan agreement on a continuing resolution to fund government operations beyond the September 30 fiscal year deadline. The impasse centers on contentious healthcare provisions, with Republicans and Democrats unable to bridge fundamental disagreements about Medicaid funding and premium tax credits that would affect millions of Americans’ access to healthcare coverage.

The shutdown arrives during a period of significant federal workforce transformation, with the Trump administration implementing aggressive staffing reductions and efficiency initiatives across multiple agencies. Unlike previous shutdowns that typically furloughed 35% to 40% of federal employees, the current approach affects workers differently across agencies. The Partnership for Public Service estimates approximately 900,000 federal workers face furlough, while an additional 700,000 may work without pay. This shutdown introduces unprecedented uncertainty because the administration has raised the possibility of converting temporary furloughs into permanent layoffs through Reduction in Force procedures, fundamentally changing the nature of what has traditionally been viewed as a temporary funding disruption.

Key Government Shutdown Stats & Facts in the US 2025

Data Sources: Office of Management and Budget, Partnership for Public Service, Congressional Budget Office, Congressional Research Service, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

The statistics surrounding the 2025 government shutdown reveal both familiar patterns from previous funding lapses and significant departures that make this situation unique in modern governance. The shutdown beginning October 1, 2025 occurs exactly six years after the last major funding gap, which ran for a record-breaking 35 days during the first Trump administration and affected approximately 800,000 furloughed federal workers. The current estimates suggest 900,000 workers face furlough according to the Partnership for Public Service, while the Congressional Budget Office estimates approximately 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed each day of the shutdown. These figures represent substantial portions of the federal civilian workforce, though different agencies apply varying interpretations of which positions qualify as “essential” under Office of Management and Budget guidance.

The complete failure of Congress to pass any of the 12 required appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026 represents a continuation of budgetary dysfunction that has plagued the federal government for decades. The last time Congress successfully passed all appropriations on schedule was 1997, nearly three decades ago, forcing reliance on continuing resolutions that maintain previous spending levels while postponing difficult policy decisions. The 2019 Fair Treatment Act guarantees that all furloughed workers will receive back pay once the government reopens, providing some financial security even as families face immediate hardship from missing paychecks. This legal protection emerged from the 2018-2019 shutdown experience, when federal workers endured 35 days without income and many resorted to food banks and emergency loans to survive.

US Government Shutdowns (1976-2025)

Total Shutdowns Since 1976: 21 (including 2025)
Total Funding Gaps: 20 gaps resulting in 10 significant shutdowns
Average Duration: 8 days
Longest Shutdown: 35 days (December 2018 – January 2019)

Since the current budget process was established in 1976, the government has experienced 20 funding gaps, which resulted in 10 shutdowns. Before 1980, funding gaps rarely led to actual shutdowns as federal agencies continued operating under the assumption that Congress would soon restore funding. This changed after Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti issued legal opinions stating that federal law prohibits agencies from spending money without congressional approval, with only essential services permitted to continue.

The frequency and nature of shutdowns have evolved significantly over the past five decades. The longest government shutdown in US history lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, during President Trump’s first term over border wall funding disputes. Prior to the 1980s interpretation of the Antideficiency Act, funding lapses were treated as technical matters rather than triggers for operational shutdowns. Since 1982, funding gaps have more consistently resulted in full or partial government closures until Congress resolves budgetary standoffs.

The October 1, 2025 shutdown marks the 21st funding lapse since the modern budget process began nearly 50 years ago. This shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on October 1, 2025, after both Republican and Democratic funding bills failed to reach 60 votes in the Senate. Historical patterns show that shutdowns have become more politically charged in recent decades, with major policy disagreements—ranging from abortion funding in the 1970s to healthcare reform in the 2010s—serving as the primary catalysts for congressional deadlock.

Federal Employee Impact Analysis in the US 2025

Data Sources: Partnership for Public Service, Congressional Budget Office, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, CNBC, ABC News, Congressional Records

The federal employee impact of the 2025 government shutdown creates a complex patchwork of circumstances across the civilian federal workforce, with agencies implementing shutdown plans that vary significantly in their treatment of employees. The Partnership for Public Service estimates that 900,000 workers face furlough on any given day during the shutdown, while the Congressional Budget Office provides a slightly lower estimate of approximately 750,000 federal workers being furloughed daily. These furloughed employees receive official notices from the Office of Personnel Management directing them to cease work immediately, turn off government devices, and await notification about when they can return to their duties. The variation in estimates reflects different methodologies and the fluid nature of agency determinations about which positions meet criteria for “essential” status under the Antideficiency Act.

An additional 700,000 federal workers find themselves in the particularly difficult position of being required to continue reporting to work without knowing when they will receive their next paycheck, according to Partnership for Public Service estimates. This category includes airport security screeners working for the Transportation Security Administration, air traffic controllers ensuring safe flight operations across the nation, federal law enforcement officers investigating crimes, Border Patrol agents securing international boundaries, Coast Guard personnel conducting maritime operations, and correctional officers maintaining security at federal prisons. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, which lasted 35 days, the nation witnessed growing strain on these essential workers, with 420,000 federal employees required to work without pay. TSA agents called in sick at increasing rates as the shutdown dragged on for over a month, forcing some airport terminals to close security checkpoints due to insufficient staffing.

The 2013 shutdown provides another well-documented case study, affecting approximately 850,000 workers according to Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget historical data, making it the shutdown with the highest number of furloughed employees prior to 2018. That funding lapse stemmed from Republican efforts to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act, with House Republicans refusing to pass appropriations unless the healthcare law was gutted. The 2 million military troops currently serving continue their duties and will receive pay under separate legislative provisions, though approximately hundreds of thousands of civilian Defense Department employees face furlough. The psychological and financial stress of working without pay while bills accumulate creates untenable situations for workers living paycheck to paycheck, many of whom lack substantial emergency savings to weather extended periods without income.

Historical Shutdown Comparison Facts in the US 2025

Data Sources: Congressional Research Service, Congressional Budget Office, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, CNBC, Historical Government Records

The 2025 government shutdown joins a troubling pattern of fiscal dysfunction that has characterized American governance for decades, with the current impasse representing the first funding lapse in six years. The 35-day shutdown spanning from December 22, 2018, through January 25, 2019, holds the record as the longest government shutdown in United States history, affecting approximately 800,000 furloughed workers and causing widespread disruption to federal services. That shutdown centered on disagreements over border wall funding, with President Trump demanding $5.7 billion for construction while congressional Democrats refused to include such provisions in appropriations legislation. The extended duration inflicted severe financial hardship on federal workers who missed multiple paychecks, with some forced to visit food banks or take out loans to cover basic expenses.

The 2013 shutdown lasting 16 days affected approximately 850,000 workers according to Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget historical data, making it the shutdown with the highest number of furloughed employees in the modern era. That funding lapse stemmed from Republican efforts to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act, with House Republicans refusing to pass appropriations unless the healthcare law was gutted. The economic consequences proved substantial, with analysts estimating significant impacts on economic output and federal compensation that rippled through local economies, particularly in areas with high concentrations of federal employees like the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.

The pattern of shutdowns dating back decades demonstrates chronic congressional inability to fulfill basic constitutional responsibilities for funding government operations. Congress has not passed all 12 required appropriations bills on time since 1997, nearly 28 years ago, instead relying on continuing resolutions that maintain previous spending levels while kicking difficult decisions down the road. This dysfunction reflects deeper political polarization, with lawmakers increasingly willing to use funding deadlines as leverage for unrelated policy goals. The brief 3-day shutdown in 2018 over immigration policy and the 21-day shutdown during the Clinton administration in 1995-1996 over budget disagreements illustrate how shutdowns have become a recurring feature of American governance despite their proven inefficiency and harm to federal workers and the public. The 1995-1996 shutdown affected approximately 284,000 federal workers and marked a turning point in the use of government closures as political tactics.

Economic Impact Assessment in the US 2025

Data Sources: Congressional Budget Office, NBC News, CNN Business, CNBC, Standard & Poor’s Economic Analysis, Wall Street Estimates, White House

The economic impact of government shutdowns extends far beyond the immediate disruption to federal operations, creating ripple effects throughout the national economy that affect businesses, contractors, and communities dependent on federal spending. Economists typically estimate that each week of a government shutdown trims approximately 0.2 percentage points from gross domestic product (GDP), though these losses are often quickly reversed as the government reopens and delayed spending flows through the economy. However, the 2018-2019 shutdown lasting 35 days demonstrated that extended funding lapses can inflict permanent economic damage, with the Congressional Budget Office calculating that $3 billion in economic output was permanently lost, representing economic activity that would never be recovered even after government operations resumed and back pay was distributed to furloughed workers.

The Congressional Budget Office analysis of the 2018-2019 shutdown estimated that the five-week funding lapse delayed approximately $18 billion in federal discretionary spending for employee compensation and purchases of goods and services, while suspending federal services that businesses and individuals rely upon. The delay in federal compensation reduced consumer spending, particularly among the 300,000 federal workers who were furloughed and the 420,000 essential workers who continued working without pay, creating downstream effects for retailers, restaurants, and service providers in communities with significant federal employment. The total economic impact on GDP during the 35-day shutdown ranged from 0.1% to 0.4% depending on various economic modeling approaches used by Wall Street analysts and government economists.

The 2013 shutdown provides another well-documented case study of economic consequences, with Standard & Poor’s calculating that the 16-day funding lapse reduced fourth-quarter GDP growth by 0.6%, a substantial impact on the world’s largest economy. The 850,000 workers furloughed during that shutdown stopped spending on discretionary purchases, delayed major purchases like homes and automobiles, and created uncertainty that affected business investment decisions. Small businesses serving federal employees or dependent on federal contracts faced particular hardship, with some forced to lay off workers or close permanently when receivables from government work dried up. The pattern across multiple shutdowns demonstrates that these funding crises represent fundamentally inefficient approaches to fiscal disputes, costing more to the economy than would be spent to simply keep government operating while political negotiations continue.

Public Services Status in the US 2025

Data Sources: Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, USPS, Department of Homeland Security, NBC News, Smithsonian Institution

The public services impact of the 2025 government shutdown creates a confusing patchwork of service availability, with some critical programs continuing without interruption while others immediately cease operations or dramatically reduce service levels. Social Security benefits continue to be distributed to approximately 70 million beneficiaries as scheduled, with the Social Security Administration confirming that in the event of appropriations lapse, the agency follows its contingency plan for continued activities, ensuring that Social Security retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance, and SSI payments flow uninterrupted. This continuity stems from Social Security’s classification as mandatory spending authorized by permanent appropriations, meaning the program continues regardless of annual appropriations status.

Medicare coverage serving approximately 66 million beneficiaries continues without interruption, with seniors able to see doctors and healthcare providers able to submit claims for payment and receive reimbursement. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains operations using available funding and the classification of many functions as essential to protecting life and health. Medicaid benefits serving approximately 88 million enrollees continue distribution through state administration, though states bear increased administrative burdens during federal shutdowns and face uncertainty about future federal funding matches. Veterans retain access to benefits and services, with the Department of Veterans Affairs confirming that benefit payments will continue for approximately 19 million veterans and veterans will still be able to access services at VA medical centers nationwide.

The U.S. Postal Service continues normal mail delivery operations because it operates as a self-funded entity that does not rely on annual appropriations, meaning Americans will continue receiving letters and packages regardless of shutdown duration. National parks present a more complicated situation, with open-air sites remaining accessible to the public while buildings requiring staffing such as visitor centers or attractions like the Washington Monument close. The Smithsonian Institution announced that all museums will continue operating until prior-year funding runs out, which officials estimate will occur around Monday, October 6, at which point the museums will close to the public. The Transportation Security Administration continues operating with screeners working without immediate pay to maintain airport security, though historical experience from the 2018-2019 shutdown suggests potential staffing challenges if the shutdown extends for multiple weeks as employees face financial hardship.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, serves approximately 42 million recipients but faces potential disruption if the shutdown extends for multiple months and state reserves deplete, creating food insecurity for vulnerable populations. This program represents a critical lifeline for low-income families, and any extended disruption could have devastating consequences for millions of Americans who depend on this assistance for basic nutrition.

Agency-Specific Operations in the US 2025

Data Sources: DHS Operations, VA Statements, DOJ Guidance, Interior Operations, Treasury Operations, FAA Operations, NBC News, Congressional Representatives

The agency-specific operations during the 2025 shutdown reveal dramatic differences in how various departments implement their contingency plans, with some maintaining near-normal operations while others virtually cease functioning. Homeland Security maintains most frontline operations including Border Patrol agents securing international boundaries, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducting enforcement operations, and Transportation Security Administration screeners maintaining airport security checkpoints. The department’s determination that these functions are essential reflects their direct connection to protecting lives and securing national borders, though policy development, administrative investigations, and some immigration court proceedings may be delayed. The Coast Guard continues maritime operations including search and rescue missions, though routine maintenance and administrative support may be reduced.

The Department of Justice maintains federal law enforcement through the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and U.S. Marshals Service, though the extent varies by investigation type and resource requirements. Federal courts continue operating and federal prisons maintain security, but civil litigation may face delays and policy initiatives are suspended. The Internal Revenue Service maintains tax collection and enforcement operations, though customer service functions are significantly curtailed. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, at least 26,000 furloughed IRS employees were recalled to work in preparation for tax season, but 14,000 did not show up to work without pay, illustrating the challenges of maintaining operations when workers face financial hardship.

The Department of the Interior faces particular scrutiny regarding National Parks Service operations, with partial park access creating confusion for visitors and concerns about environmental protection when facilities remain open without adequate staffing for maintenance and emergency response. The Department of Education will furlough approximately 95% of staff who don’t work on federal student aid in the first week of a government shutdown, and the department will also halt new grant-making activities during a lapse in funding. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks during the shutdown, maintaining essential public health functions while other research and administrative activities are suspended.

Congressional Responsibility in the US 2025

Data Sources: Congressional Records, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Constitutional Requirements, Congressional Representatives, USAFacts, Congressional Research Service

The congressional failure to pass appropriations legislation by the September 30 deadline represents a fundamental breakdown in the basic constitutional responsibility of funding government operations, with zero of the 12 required appropriations bills enacted for Fiscal Year 2026 before the October 1 start date. This failure continues a disturbing pattern that has persisted for nearly three decades, with Congress last successfully passing all appropriations bills on schedule in 1997, fully 28 years ago. The intervening years have seen lawmakers increasingly rely on continuing resolutions that maintain previous spending levels for weeks or months at a time, kicking difficult decisions down the road while providing no opportunity for thoughtful consideration of agency needs or policy priorities.

The 2025 shutdown occurs despite unified Republican control of both chambers and the presidency, demonstrating that single-party governance provides no guarantee of fiscal responsibility when intraparty divisions prove as significant as partisan disagreements. The healthcare provisions at the center of the current impasse reflect fundamental ideological differences between Republicans and Democrats about the role of government in providing healthcare access, with Democrats seeking to restore Medicaid funding and extend premium tax credits while Republicans oppose additional healthcare spending. The Senate’s 60-vote threshold for most legislation creates a functional supermajority requirement that empowers minority obstruction, though both parties have used shutdown threats and funding deadlines as leverage when holding either majority or minority status.

Members of Congress continuing to receive their $174,000 annual salaries during shutdowns generates particular public resentment, as hundreds of thousands of federal workers face lost paychecks while the lawmakers who created the crisis maintain their compensation. The Constitutional provision preventing mid-term salary alterations protects congressional pay under Article I, Section 6, though individual members sometimes voluntarily return salaries or donate them during shutdown periods to demonstrate solidarity with affected workers. The dysfunction extends beyond mere budgetary disagreements to represent deeper questions about governing philosophy, with shutdowns increasingly viewed as acceptable negotiating tactics rather than failures requiring immediate resolution. The failure to fund government operations affects approximately 2 million federal civilian employees when including all agencies, though estimates vary based on different counting methodologies.

Healthcare and Benefits Programs in the US 2025

Data Sources: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Congressional Representatives, OPM Data

The healthcare and benefits programs status during the 2025 government shutdown provides reassurance for millions of Americans who depend on federal assistance for basic needs, though the policy disputes underlying the shutdown center precisely on healthcare funding decisions with long-term implications. Medicare coverage serving approximately 66 million beneficiaries continues without interruption, with seniors able to see doctors and healthcare providers able to submit claims and receive reimbursement. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services maintains operations using available funding and the classification of healthcare payment processing as essential to protecting public health, though routine administrative interactions may experience delays if staffing reductions affect customer service operations.

Medicaid benefits serving approximately 88 million enrollees continue distribution through state administration, though states bear increased administrative burdens during federal shutdowns and face uncertainty about future federal funding matches. The healthcare provisions at the center of congressional disagreement include Medicaid funding levels and eligibility requirements, with potential implications for millions of low-income Americans who depend on the program for healthcare access. Social Security payments flow to approximately 70 million beneficiaries without disruption, maintaining retirement income, disability benefits, and survivor benefits that represent the primary or sole income source for many elderly and disabled Americans. The Social Security Administration processed over $1.2 trillion in benefits in the previous fiscal year, and this critical function continues during the shutdown.

Veterans benefits continue through the Department of Veterans Affairs, which maintains healthcare delivery at VA medical centers and processes benefits payments to approximately 19 million veterans nationwide. This continuity reflects the prioritization of veterans services across political lines and the VA’s contingency planning that designates most functions as essential. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, serves approximately 42 million recipients but faces potential disruption if the shutdown extends for multiple months and state reserves deplete, creating food insecurity for vulnerable populations. During the 2013 shutdown, concerns about SNAP funding created anxiety among millions of low-income families who depend on this assistance.

The premium tax credits that help millions of Americans afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces represent a key dispute point, with Democrats seeking extension of enhanced subsidies while Republicans oppose additional healthcare spending. The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program covers approximately 8 million federal workers and family members, and coverage continues during the shutdown even if agencies cannot make premium payments on time. Employees will see accumulated premium deductions withheld from back pay once the shutdown ends. Federal employee retirement payments continue for approximately 2.7 million retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System and Federal Employees Retirement System, as these are funded through trust funds not subject to annual appropriations.

Federal Workforce Demographics in the US 2025

Data Sources: Office of Personnel Management, Partnership for Public Service, Department of Defense, USPS, TSA, FAA, Department of Justice

The federal workforce demographics reveal the massive scale of human impact from the 2025 government shutdown, affecting approximately 2.1 million civilian federal employees across hundreds of agencies and departments nationwide. The Partnership for Public Service estimates that 900,000 workers will be furloughed, representing nearly half of the affected civilian workforce, while another 700,000 employees classified as essential must continue reporting to work without immediate pay. These numbers do not include the approximately 2 million active-duty military personnel who continue their duties under separate funding provisions, though hundreds of thousands of civilian Defense Department employees face furlough or unpaid work requirements.

The 650,000 Postal Service workers remain unaffected by the shutdown because the United States Postal Service operates as a self-funded entity that does not rely on annual appropriations. This represents one of the largest federal workforces that continues normal operations during funding lapses. The 60,000 Transportation Security Administration screeners must continue working without pay to maintain airport security across the nation’s commercial airports. During the 2018-2019 shutdown, TSA reported increasing call-out rates as employees faced financial hardship, with some airports forced to consolidate security checkpoints or extend wait times due to staffing shortages.

The 14,000 air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration must continue working to ensure safe flight operations across American airspace, though they will not receive paychecks until the shutdown ends. The 135,000 federal law enforcement officers across agencies including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and U.S. Marshals Service continue investigations and enforcement activities while working without pay. This category of essential workers faces particular financial strain, as they cannot seek alternative employment during the shutdown due to their critical public safety responsibilities, yet must continue meeting household expenses without regular income.

Shutdown Impact on Federal Contractors in the US 2025

Data Sources: Government Contracting Industry Reports, Small Business Administration, Congressional Testimony, Industry Associations

The federal contractors represent a massive workforce that often receives less attention during government shutdowns but faces severe economic consequences without the back pay guarantees that federal employees receive under the 2019 Fair Treatment Act. Millions of contract workers across the United States provide services ranging from janitorial and food service to sophisticated technology development and research.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.