Get the Facts: How often do government shutdowns occur?

WASHINGTON —

Funding gaps and government shutdowns haven’t always been a regular topic of conversation when Congress debates federal spending.

The government is heading into the next fiscal year this week, with the Sept. 30 deadline to fund the federal government approaching before the government shuts down. Advertisement

The Get the Facts Data Team found there have been 20 funding gaps lasting at least a day, and 10 government shutdowns since 1977.

A funding gap is a period of time during which funding for a project or activity is not enacted into law. This can be through a regular appropriations act or a continuing resolution.

Funding gaps didn’t start occurring until the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was passed , which established deadlines for passing federal budgets