are we in a government shut down

Yes, we are currently in a U.S. federal government shutdown. It began at 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 1, 2025, due to Congress failing to pass the necessary appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. This shutdown is the first since the 2018-2019 shutdown, caused by partisan disagreements over spending levels, health insurance subsidies, and foreign aid rescissions. About 900,000 federal employees were furloughed, and another 700,000 are working without pay. Essential services like Medicare, Medicaid, TSA, and Amtrak continue operating, but many agencies face partial or full suspensions of operations. Negotiations failed because Democrats and Republicans could not agree on healthcare funding and other budget priorities.