The United States government partially shut down at midnight on October 1 after the Senate failed to approve a funding bill.
Both Republican and Democratic proposals fell short of the 60 votes needed, resulting in a halt to many federal operations. This is the first government shutdown since 2018 and the 15th since 1980.
President Donald Trump indicated he would use the shutdown to push through cuts to federal programmes and jobs, saying, “We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programmes that they like.” He claimed the shutdown could bring “a lot of good.”
Non-essential services like economic data releases, small business loan processing, and national parks have closed. Essential workers, including military personnel, law enforcement, and air traffic controllers, must continue working without pay until funding is restored. Social welfare payments, such as Social Security and food aid, will continue but may face administration delays.
Unlike past shutdowns where furloughed workers were later compensated, Trump has threatened to fire many federal employees, especially those he sees as aligned with the Democratic party. Legal experts say most mass firings would be unlawful under current civil service protections.
The shutdown came after weeks of deadlock over funding. Democrats rejected a Republican bill that would have extended funding for nine weeks, insisting it include healthcare expansions and Medicaid reversals under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Republicans preferred to discuss healthcare separately. On Tuesday, Senate votes failed on both parties’ plans, leaving the government unfunded.
Democratic leaders blamed Republicans for the shutdown, accusing them of prioritising political games over public welfare. Republican leaders hope to rally enough Democrats to pass a clean funding bill soon, lamenting the impasse serves only to satisfy the Democratic left.
The Congressional Budget Office warns the shutdown will cost the economy dearly through lost productivity and diminished confidence. Many federal workers face unpaid leave, and millions of Americans will experience delays in government services.
The longest shutdown on record lasted 34 days during Trump’s first term in 2018–2019. How long this one lasts remains uncertain.