US federal government shuts down for first time in 17 years The US federal government shut down for the first time in 17 years on Tuesday, after hours of political brinkmanship failed to end a congressional budget row. Ten minutes before midnight Monday, the White House budget office issued an order for many government departments to start closing down, triggering 800,000 furloughs of federal workers, and shutting tourists out of national parks and museums. Stockshots