Flowcharting a government shutdown for government contractors [Commentary] Rebecca Kehoe, CohnReznick August 28, 2017 A sign indicates that the Lincoln Memorial and all national parks are closes October 1, 2013 in Washington, DC. The US government is in a forced shutdown after lawmakers failed to pass a spending bill last night. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images) Will a governmentwide shutdown occur at the end of September? President Trump has indicated that he may be willing to let it happen and Congress has routinely let the clock tick down to just before deadline. The last shutdown (fiscal 2014) lasted 16 days and the longest one lasted 21 days in 1995-96. All a federal contractor can do is to be prepared.