This graphic visualizes the history of U.S. government shutdowns using data from the U.S. House of Representatives, including the president during the shutdown and how many days the shutdown lasted.
Key Takeaways
- The first U.S. government shutdown was in 1981 under President Ronald Reagan, and lasted two days.
- Including the latest shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, there have been 15 U.S. government shutdowns amounting to 97 days of suspended federal operations.
Read more: The History of U.S. Government Shutdowns