Government shutdown becomes longest in US history

Published November 5, 2025 12:01am ET



The government shutdown has broken the record for the longest in U.S. history at 36 days, while federal workers go without pay, millions of people go without food stamps, and the holiday season approaches.

The record was broken just days after the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program lapsed for the first time. The previous record of 35 days was a partial shutdown in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first term, meaning the current one had already claimed the record for the longest full shutdown. The third-longest shutdown was 21 days under President Bill Clinton in 1995.

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