How long will the government shutdown last?

The United States government partially ceased operation from October 1 through October 16, 2013, according to Mediaite. After 16 days, congressional leaders reached an agreement to keep the government fully functional until January 15 and allow it to meet its financial obligations until February 7, 2014.

For the first time in 17 years, government monuments and parks were closed, the Internal Revenue Service stopped audits, and 800,000 federal employees were laid off until the government resumed operation. The uncertainty of the length of the shutdown and its effect on the economy also caused the stock market to drop, according to Forbes.