US Government Shutdown Now Tied for Longest in History

The lapse in funding has gone on so long that Republicans must craft a new spending resolution to replace a proposal that would expire Nov. 21.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), joined by other Senate Republicans, speaks to reporters as the government is on the verge of a shutdown amid a partisan standoff, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 30, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

WASHINGTON—The lapse in federal funding has hit another milestone: At 35 days as of Nov 4, it is now tied for the longest in U.S. history.

The sheer duration of the lapse is also forcing a change to a Republican-backed continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government. Its scheduled end date, Nov. 21, is now less than three weeks away, leaving lawmakers little time for the negotiations over long-range funding it was meant to enable.