Longest U.S. Government Shutdown: 2018–2019 Explained
The 2018–2019 U.S. government shutdown was the longest in American history, lasting 35 days from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019.
Key Facts:
Cause: The shutdown stemmed from a dispute over funding for a proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. President Donald Trump requested $5.7 billion for the wall, which was opposed by congressional Democrats.
Scope: It affected about 800,000 federal employees, with many furloughed or working without pay.
Agencies impacted:
Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Agriculture, and Interior
National parks were closed or operated with limited staff
IRS services were delayed, affecting tax refunds and filings
Economic impact: The Congressional Budget Office estimated a $11 billion loss, with $3 billion permanently lost to the economy due to reduced productivity and delayed spending.
Resolution:
The shutdown ended when President Trump signed a temporary funding bill to reopen the government without wall funding, allowing negotiations to continue.