Since 1976, the U.S. has experienced 22 federal government shutdowns. Below is a full chronology with dates, duration, presidents, and main causes:

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📜 Shutdowns by Year

1. Sept 30 – Oct 11, 1976 — 10 days — Gerald Ford — Spending cuts.
2. Sept 30 – Oct 13, 1977 — 12 days — Jimmy Carter — Restrictions on abortion funding.
3. Oct 31 – Nov 9, 1977 — 8 days — Jimmy Carter — Restrictions on abortion funding.
4. Nov 30 – Dec 9, 1977 — 8 days — Jimmy Carter — Restrictions on abortion funding.
5. Sept 30 – Oct 18, 1978 — 18 days — Jimmy Carter — Defense spending & abortion funding.
6. Sept 30 – Oct 12, 1979 — 11 days — Jimmy Carter — Defense & abortion funding.
7. Nov 20 – Nov 23, 1981 — 2 days — Ronald Reagan — Spending cuts.
8. Sept 30 – Oct 2, 1982 — 1 day — Ronald Reagan — MX missiles & aid to Nicaragua.
9. Dec 17 – Dec 21, 1982 — 3 days — Ronald Reagan — Budget disputes.
10. Nov 10 – Nov 14, 1983 — 3 days — Ronald Reagan — MX missile funding.
11. Sept 30 – Oct 3, 1984 — 2 days — Ronald Reagan — Crime bill & water projects.
12. Oct 3 – Oct 5, 1984 — 1 day — Ronald Reagan — Continuation of same disputes.
13. Oct 16 – Oct 18, 1986 — 1 day — Ronald Reagan — Social Security & water projects.
14. Dec 18 – Dec 20, 1987 — 1 day — Ronald Reagan — Contra aid & defense spending.
15. Oct 5 – Oct 9, 1990 — 3 days — George H. W. Bush — Budget deficit & taxes.
16. Nov 13 – Nov 19, 1995 — 5 days — Bill Clinton — Medicare, education, environment.
17. Dec 15, 1995 – Jan 6, 1996 — 21 days — Bill Clinton — Balanced budget dispute.
18. Sept 30 – Oct 17, 2013 — 16 days — Barack Obama — Funding for Obamacare.
19. Jan 20 – Jan 22, 2018 — 3 days — Donald Trump — Immigration & DACA.
20. Feb 9, 2018 — <1 day — Donald Trump — Budget caps & military funding.
21. Dec 22, 2018 – Jan 25, 2019 — 35 days — Donald Trump — Funding for border wall.
22. Oct 1, 2025 – ??? — Ongoing — Donald Trump — Budget not passed / congressional deadlock.

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📊 Key Facts

• Total shutdowns: 22
• Longest: 35 days (2018–2019, Trump)
• Most shutdowns: Ronald Reagan (8 in total, mostly short)
• Investor impact: Historically minimal — the S&P 500 declined on average only –0.4% during shutdowns, with rebounds in 85% of cases once government reopened.

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💡 Takeaway for Investors:
Shutdowns create political drama but rarely lasting financial damage. For markets, they have often been short-term noise — or even buying opportunities during temporary dips.

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With experience and realism,
George Zimmerman
Your broker & market partner