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 federal government shut down just after midnight Wednesday, making it the 21st funding gap and 11th shutdown since 1977, according to an analysis by the Get the Facts Data Team .

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.

Funding gaps and government shutdowns are two separate events. A funding gap occurs when there’s a lapse in funding, but a shutdown