Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History
Trump shut down the federal government for 35 days — the longest in U.S. history — over border wall funding. 800,000 workers went unpaid. He reopened it without getting a single dollar for the wall.
From December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019, Trump shut down the federal government for 35 days — the longest government shutdown in American history — after Congress refused to fund his border wall.
Trump had stated on camera to Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer: "I am proud to shut down the government for border security. I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down."
The consequences were severe:
- Approximately 800,000 federal employees were furloughed or forced to work without pay
- Nine executive departments were affected
- TSA agents called in sick en masse, creating airport chaos
- National parks were left unattended and damaged
- Food safety inspections were reduced
- The Congressional Budget Office estimated the shutdown cost the economy $11 billion
After 35 days, Trump capitulated and signed a deal to reopen the government that contained zero dollars for a border wall — exactly what had been offered before the shutdown began. He had inflicted weeks of hardship on hundreds of thousands of workers for nothing.