US Enters Government Shutdown – What Does It Mean?

The U.S. government has entered a shutdown after Congress and the White House failed to agree on funding, with federal operations halted starting Oct 1, 2025.

President Donald Trump’s Republican Party controls both chambers of Congress but fell short in the Senate, where 60 votes were needed to advance the bill. The measure failed in a 55–45 vote.

Democrats demand healthcare subsidies be included in the spending bill, while Republicans want them separate. Trump intensified the conflict by threatening more federal layoffs and refusing to spend funds already approved by Congress.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, about 750,000 federal employees will be furloughed daily. Essential workers, including TSA agents, air traffic controllers, federal law enforcement officers, and military personnel, will be forced to work without pay until the standoff is resolved.

The last U.S. government shutdown occurred during Trump’s first term, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. Lasting 35 days, it was the longest shutdown in U.S. history and cost the economy an estimated $3 billion.