How Many Days Are We In The US Government Shutdown?
As of today, Wednesday, November 5, 2025, the US federal government has been in a shutdown for 36 days.
This closure, which began on October 1, 2025, has broken the record to become the longest government shutdown in United States history.
A Grim Milestone: Longest on Record
This shutdown officially surpassed the previous record of 35 days, which occurred from December 2018 to January 2019. This means the political impasse has now created the most prolonged interruption of government services the nation has ever faced.
🛑 Why Is the Government Shut Down? The Core Conflict
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass the necessary appropriations (spending) bills or a temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund federal agencies for the new fiscal year, which begins on October 1st.
The current, record-breaking standoff is rooted in a fundamental disagreement over healthcare spending:
- The Democratic Stance: Democrats in the Senate are demanding that any funding bill includes an extension of enhanced subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These subsidies were expanded during the COVID-19 relief efforts and help millions of Americans afford health insurance. They are set to expire soon.
- The Republican Stance: Republicans, who control the House and are in a slim majority in the Senate, have refused to include the ACA subsidy extension, insisting that a “clean” Continuing Resolution—one without policy changes—must pass first to reopen the government.
Because neither side has conceded, funding lapsed, and all non-essential government operations ceased, leading to the current closure.
📉 What Has Changed Among Americans? The Economic and Social Toll
A protracted shutdown affects far more than just Washington politics. It creates significant disruption and economic damage across the country.
Economy and Jobs
| Impact Area | Change/Effect During Shutdown |
| Federal Workers | Approximately 900,000 federal employees have been either furloughed (sent home without pay) or deemed “excepted” (required to work without a paycheck). This includes TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and FBI staff. |
| Economic Output (GDP) | The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the shutdown is already costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars in lost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that may never be recovered. |
| Data Blackout | The release of critical federal economic statistics—including major reports on employment, trade, and GDP—has been delayed. This data vacuum makes it harder for businesses and investors to make informed decisions. |
| Small Businesses | Federal contract work is paused, putting billions of dollars in payments at risk for private-sector contractors, particularly small businesses that rely on government checks. |
Social Services and Public Health
- Food Assistance (SNAP): Millions of low-income Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, have faced major uncertainty. Although some emergency funds have been released, the timely delivery and full funding for this essential program remain in jeopardy.
- Healthcare Costs: The political fight centers on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. If they expire, millions of Americans using the federal marketplace could see their health insurance premiums spike by an average of 26%—a massive financial burden.
- Air Travel Safety: Staffing shortages and financial stress on essential but unpaid workers like air traffic controllers and TSA officers have led to warnings of mass flight delays, potential safety risks, and operational reductions at major U.S. airports.
- Childcare and Education: Over 65,000 children across multiple states and territories risk losing access to Head Start early education programs, disrupting childcare for low-income families and forcing parents out of the workforce.
Conclusion: A Costly Political Deadlock
The current 36-day government shutdown is not a result of a financial crisis or external emergency; it is a self-imposed political stalemate. The cost of this deadlock is being paid by hundreds of thousands of public servants who are missing paychecks and by millions of vulnerable Americans whose essential services—from food aid to affordable healthcare—are being disrupted. The longer this record-breaking closure continues, the deeper the economic and social consequences will be.