Longest shutdown in US history

Summary

FY2026 opened with the longest US government shutdown in history, lasting 43 days from October 1 to November 12, 2025. It left roughly 1.25 million federal workers unpaid, delayed SNAP benefits for about 42 million people, and forced thousands of flight cancellations before the government reopened.

What happened

The shutdown delayed about $16 billion in wages for roughly 1.25 million federal workers and held up about $8 billion in November SNAP benefits for around 42 million recipients, which became the subject of litigation. Air-traffic-controller absences forced thousands of flight cancellations, and, the AP reported, the government missed two monthly jobs reports, with October inflation data likely never to be issued. Separately, agencies issued reduction-in-force notices during the lapse; the law that reopened the government barred RIFs through January 30, 2026, and agencies rescinded thousands of layoff notices first sent during the shutdown. On December 17, 2025, Judge Susan Illston ruled that four agencies had violated that ban and ordered around 700 layoffs rescinded or paused.

Impact on the United States

CBO estimated about $11 billion in unrecoverable GDP on top of lost wages, interrupted food aid for tens of millions, air-travel disruption, and missing federal economic data, while agencies issued layoff notices during the lapse; a judge later ruled that four agencies violated the reopening law's layoff ban.

Documented effects

1. Nov 2025~$11 billion in unrecoverable GDP, ~1.25 million workers unpaid, and ~2,000 flights canceled[1]
2. Nov 2025~$8 billion in November SNAP benefits for ~42 million recipients delayed and litigated[2]
3. Dec 2025Judge ruled four agencies violated the reopening law's layoff ban and ordered ~700 RIFs rescinded or paused[3]

Why this is rated critical

A record 43-day lapse left about 1.25 million federal workers unpaid, delayed SNAP benefits for about 42 million people and cost about $11 billion in unrecoverable GDP (CBO), while a judge ruled four agencies' layoffs violated the reopening law's ban.

Corrections & updates [8]

Every change to a fact on this page after publication is logged here, newest first.

1. Sep 29, 2026CorrectedWhat happened

   The entry said Judge Susan Illston found "shutdown RIFs illegal" and ordered them rescinded "with back pay" on Dec. 17, 2025. Per Government Executive, the Dec. 17 ruling found that four agencies (State, Education, SBA, GSA) violated the reopening law's ban on reductions in force and ordered around 700 layoffs rescinded or paused; the report does not mention back pay. Agencies had separately rescinded thousands of layoff notices first sent during the shutdown. The attribution of the notices to OMB Director Russell Vought personally is not in the cited sources and was removed.[3]

2. Sep 29, 2026CorrectedFigure

   The ~$11 billion permanent GDP loss is a Congressional Budget Office estimate (AP via Fortune); the cited source does not attribute it to the Council of Economic Advisers.[1]

   + Show previous and current text- Hide previous and current text

   Previously

   CBO and CEA estimated about $11 billion in unrecoverable GDP on top of lost wages, interrupted food aid for tens of millions, air-travel chaos, and a permanent 'lost month' of economic data, while the lapse was used to attempt an unlawful purge of career civil servants.

   Now

   CBO estimated about $11 billion in unrecoverable GDP on top of lost wages, interrupted food aid for tens of millions, air-travel chaos, and a permanent 'lost month' of economic data, while the lapse was used to attempt an unlawful purge of career civil servants.

3. Sep 29, 2026ClarifiedSource

   Added the official record for the shutdown's end date: H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, was signed on Nov. 12, 2025 (Public Law 119-37). The Fortune source is an Associated Press report and its full headline is now used.[4]

4. Sep 29, 2026CorrectedWhat happened

   The entry said the October CPI and jobs reports were 'canceled outright.' The AP reported that the government had missed two monthly jobs reports and that the October inflation data would likely never be issued. The entry also described the shutdown-period layoffs as 'an attempted unlawful purge'; it now states what the court found: on December 17, 2025 a judge ruled that four agencies violated the reopening law's layoff ban.[1][3]

5. Sep 29, 2026ClarifiedSeverity rationale

   Replaced 'attempted unlawful purge' with the court ruling documented in the entry. Severity unchanged.

   + Show previous and current text- Hide previous and current text

   Previously

   Record-length lapse combined mass unpaid work, interrupted food aid, and an attempted unlawful purge of civil servants.

   Now

   A record 43-day lapse left about 1.25 million federal workers unpaid, delayed SNAP benefits for about 42 million people and cost about $11 billion in unrecoverable GDP (CBO), while a judge ruled four agencies' layoffs violated the reopening law's ban.

6. Sep 29, 2026ClarifiedDisplay copy

   Attributed the GDP figure to CBO and matched the record's wording on flights.

7. Sep 29, 2026ClarifiedSource labels

   Source tier labels brought in line with the site's tier rule (specialist and trade publications are Tier 3; general news organizations are Tier 2): Government Executive (Tier 2 to 3). No claim in the entry changed.

8. Sep 29, 2026CorrectedCost estimate

   The $3B direct federal cost of the 2025 shutdown had no source. CBO expects the delayed spending to be made up, and the value of the work furloughed employees did not do is already counted in CBO's $11B permanent GDP loss, which stays as the broader cost. Counting back pay as a federal cost as well would count the same loss twice, so the direct federal cost is now $0. The text now credits the $11B to CBO only.

   Previously

   $3B direct federal; $11B broader

   Now

   $0 direct federal; $11B broader

Sources [4]