do we have a government shutdown

Yes, the U.S. federal government is currently in a shutdown as of October 1, 2025, starting at 12:01 a.m. EDT. This shutdown occurred due to congressional failure to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year amidst partisan disagreements primarily over spending levels, foreign aid rescissions, and health insurance subsidies. Several funding proposals failed in the Senate, leading to this government shutdown, which is the first since 2018-2019, furloughing approximately 900,000 federal employees and leaving another 700,000 working without pay. Essential services such as Medicare, Medicaid, TSA, and Amtrak continue, but many agencies have suspended operations partially or fully.