are we in a government shutdown

Yes, the United States is currently in a government shutdown as of October 1, 2025. The shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. EDT after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to agree on a funding bill to keep the government running. This shutdown has furloughed roughly 900,000 federal employees and left another 700,000 working without pay. Essential services like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Transportation Security Administration continue, but many agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, have suspended operations. The shutdown resulted from partisan disagreements over federal spending, foreign aid rescissions, and health insurance subsidies. There is no clear resolution in sight as divisions persist between Republicans and Democrats in Congress.