Fact check: Which national emergencies have been active the longest in US history?

1. Summary of the results

The longest-running national emergency in U.S. history is definitively the Iranian hostage crisis emergency, declared by President Carter on November 14, 1979, which remains active as of 2025 - spanning over 45 years ^{[1] [2]}. This emergency was historically significant as it was the first to be implemented under the 1976 National Emergencies Act ^[1]. Currently, there are 49 active national emergencies in effect, while 41 have expired ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are worth noting:

• All national emergencies require annual renewal by the sitting president ^[3]
• The National Emergencies Act of 1976 has been invoked at least 30 times since its creation ^[4]
• During a national emergency, presidents can invoke up to 123 different statutory authorities ^[4]
• The Iranian emergency specifically blocked Iranian government property under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself might lead to some misconceptions:

• While focusing on the "longest" emergencies, it's important to note that quantity rather than duration might be more significant - with 49 currently active emergencies ^[3]
• The question might suggest these are temporary measures, when in fact many become semi-permanent through annual renewals ^[3]
• Different political administrations benefit from maintaining certain emergencies:
• The executive branch gains additional powers through these declarations ^[4]
• Recent administrations, including the Trump administration, have faced scrutiny over the use of emergency powers ^[6]
• Border-related emergency declarations have been particularly controversial in recent years ^[7]