In the United States, a federal government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding legislation, leading to the curtailment of non-essential government operations and the furlough of non-essential workers. This practice, stemming from a 1980 legal opinion by Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, has resulted in 11 such events as of October 2025, becoming a consistent consequence of funding gaps since 1990. Significant shutdowns include the 35-day impasse in 2018–2019 under Donald Trump over border security, the 21-day shutdown in 1995–1996 during the Bill Clinton administration over spending cuts, and the 16-day shutdown in 2013 during Barack Obama's presidency due to Affordable Care Act disputes. These disruptions close national parks and museums, reduce government revenue, and significantly harm economic growth, with the 2013 shutdown alone estimated to have cost $24 billion and reduced Q4 GDP growth by 0.6%. The most recent federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, due to a failure to pass 2026 funding, suspending pay for 2 million workers and furloughing 900,000.