When will the government shutdown start? The next U.S. deadline
The earliest a U.S. government shutdown can start is 12:01 AM Eastern on December 12, 2026, and only if Congress lets funding run out. Federal agencies are paid for until 11:59 PM on December 11, 2026. If the House and Senate pass a new funding bill and the President signs it before that moment, the government stays open and there is no shutdown. If they miss it, the shutdown starts the next morning.
Government: OPEN Next funding deadline: December 11, 2026, 11:59 PM ET Live countdown
Will the government shut down?
No one can say for sure, and we do not guess. A shutdown happens only if a funding deadline passes without a new funding law. Whether that happens depends on whether the House, the Senate and the President agree on a bill in time.
What we can tell you is the exact deadline, what has to pass before it, and what has happened at past deadlines. Those facts are below, and the answer at the top of our U.S. government shutdown tracker changes the moment the official status does.
The next deadline: December 11, 2026
The government is running on a stopgap bill, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027, signed on September 2, 2026. It keeps agencies funded at last year's levels until 11:59 PM Eastern on December 11, 2026.
This stopgap covers all 12 areas of government funding, from defense to health care. That means if nothing new is signed by the deadline, and no full-year funding bills pass before then, the whole federal government would shut down, not just part of it.
You can follow the live countdown on our homepage or add the deadline to your calendar.
What has to happen to avoid a shutdown
Before the deadline, one of these has to become law:
- Another stopgap bill. A continuing resolution that keeps funding at current levels until a new date. This is the most common way deadlines are met.
- Full-year funding bills. The 12 yearly appropriations bills, passed one by one or bundled together, which fund agencies until September 30.
- A mix of both. Some agencies get full-year funding and the rest get a stopgap.
Whichever it is, the same bill must pass both the House and the Senate and be signed by the President. In the Senate, most bills need 60 votes to end debate before the final vote, so a funding bill usually needs support from both parties there.
How funding deadlines usually end
History does not predict the next deadline, but it shows the usual pattern:
- Since the budget year moved to October 1 in 1976, Congress has passed all 12 funding bills on time only four times, most recently for 1997. Stopgap bills are the norm.
- Last-minute deals are common. Between 2000 and 2023, Congress passed 22 stopgaps the day after the previous one ran out, which the Congressional Research Service does not count as a funding gap.
- Funding has still lapsed 23 times since 1976, and shutdowns have become more frequent: five have happened since 2018.
Will the government shut down tomorrow?
No. The government is funded until 11:59 PM Eastern on December 11, 2026, so a shutdown cannot begin before 12:01 AM on December 12, 2026. If you are reading this close to a deadline, check our homepage for the live answer.
Signs to watch before a deadline
These official signals show whether a shutdown is getting closer or has been avoided:
- House and Senate votes. Congress.gov shows when a funding bill passes each chamber and when it is signed into law.
- Agency shutdown plans. Agencies keep plans that say which staff would stay on the job. As a deadline gets close, these plans are updated and posted.
- The President's signature. A deal is not final until the bill is signed. Until then, the deadline still applies.
- OPM's operating status. If funding lapses, the Office of Personnel Management posts a notice telling federal employees that operations vary by agency.
Will the government shut down again?
Every stopgap sets a new deadline, and every deadline is a new chance for a shutdown. If Congress settles the current deadline (December 11, 2026) with full-year funding for budget year 2027, the next deadline is September 30, 2027, the day before budget year 2028 begins. If it passes another stopgap instead, the next deadline is whatever date that stopgap sets. The only honest answer is that it depends on what Congress and the President do at each deadline.
If a shutdown does happen, what shuts down depends on which funding bills are missing. Mail keeps coming and Social Security payments continue, while troop paychecks and SNAP benefits can be at risk if it drags on.
Frequently asked questions
Is the government open again?
Yes. The U.S. government is open and funded through December 11, 2026.
Can a shutdown start before the deadline?
No. A shutdown can only begin when funding actually runs out. As long as the current funding law is in effect, agencies can keep working.
What time does a government shutdown start?
Funding runs out at 11:59 PM Eastern on the deadline day, so a shutdown begins just after midnight. If a funding bill is about to be signed that same day, the White House budget office has in the past let agencies wait a few hours before closing.
Can Congress extend the deadline?
Yes. Congress can pass another stopgap bill, called a continuing resolution, at any time before the deadline, even on the last day. Once the President signs it, the deadline moves to the new date.
Why doesn't this site give shutdown odds?
Because nobody can know in advance whether lawmakers will reach a deal. Betting odds and predictions can be wrong, so we only report what has officially happened: bills passed, laws signed and deadlines.