Short answer: The longest U.S. government shutdown occurred in 2025 and lasted 43 days. If you meant 2020 specifically, there wasn’t a 2020 shutdown; the notable long shutdowns include 2018–2019 (35 days) and the 2025 event (43 days).

Details

• 2020 had no federal government shutdown. The most famous 2020-related disruption involved funding lapses in some agencies at times, but the major partial shutdowns were in 2018–2019 and 2025, with the 2025 shutdown setting the record at 43 days.

• The 2018–2019 shutdown lasted 35 days, beginning December 22, 2018, and ending January 25, 2019, making it the longest prior to 2025.

• The 2025 shutdown began October 1, 2025, and lasted 43 days, ending when funding was approved and signed into law, making it the longest in U.S. history to date.

If you were asking about a specific year’s shutdown (e.g., 2020 or another year), tell me which year you have in mind and I’ll pull the exact duration and key details for that year.