Partnership for Public Service statement on the longest government shutdown in American history

November 5, 2025

WASHINGTON – The nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service today released the following statement from President and CEO Max Stier as the current government shutdown has surpassed the record 35-day partial government shutdown in 2018 and 2019: 

“This is now the longest shutdown in history, and our nation will be experiencing long-term damages for years to come, in addition to the real and frightening immediate harms. It should be unacceptable in the greatest country on earth that our elected leaders can’t meet their most basic responsibility of keeping our government open and working for the public.  

“Adding insult to injury, those political leaders continue to be paid while expert career civil servants, who should not be used as pawns, are forced to either work without pay or stay home despite their desire to do their jobs. 

“We’ve already seen how disrupting our government for this long means disrupting the air traffic control system that ensures flight safety and timeliness, the market regulation systems that ensure financial stability, and the loans and grants that support small business, students and farmers, among many others. The Partnership is cataloging these  harms every day for all to see. 

“The situation will only get worse from here. It is time for our elected leaders to end this self-made crisis and allow the federal government to get back to serving the people.” 

To learn more about how the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle federal institutions, funding streams and infrastructure are disrupting critical public services and agency work, check out the Partnership’s Federal Harms Tracker. Our new Cost to the Shutdown feature offers daily stories about the harm caused by the interruption of vital services provided by the government.   

For more information about how the government shutdown is impacting federal employees and the public, visit the Partnership’s government shutdown resource hub.   

During the past 24 years, the nonpartisan, nonprofit Partnership for Public Service has been dedicated to building a better government and a stronger democracy. We work across administrations to help transform the way government works by providing agencies with the data insights they need to succeed, developing effective leaders, inspiring the next generation to public service, facilitating smooth presidential transitions and recognizing exceptional federal employees. 

Visit ourpublicservice.org, follow us @PublicService and subscribe today to get the latest federal news, information on upcoming Partnership programs and events, and more.   

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