are we on a government shut down

Yes, the United States federal government is currently in a shutdown as of 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2025. The shutdown occurred because Congress failed to pass a funding bill for the 2026 fiscal year, primarily due to disagreements over federal spending levels, foreign aid rescissions, and health insurance subsidies. This shutdown is the 21st in modern U.S. history and the third under President Donald Trump's current administration. Approximately 900,000 federal employees have been furloughed, and another 700,000 are working without pay, with many government operations, including some from the NIH and CDC, being suspended or partially halted. Essential services like Medicare and Medicaid continue, but many non-essential operations have stopped. The political deadlock involves Republicans and Democrats disputing over health care subsidies and budget cuts, with ongoing tensions and no immediate resolution in sight.