The U.S. federal government shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 1, 2025, due to congressional inability to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. The shutdown ensued from partisan disputes over federal spending, health insurance subsidies, and foreign aid rescissions. It is the first government shutdown since the 2018–2019 shutdown, which was the longest in history lasting 35 days. The current shutdown started because Senate Democrats blocked a continuing resolution that would have funded the government through November 21, 2025, and it remains uncertain how long this shutdown will last as negotiations continue without a resolution yet. Past shutdowns historically have lasted from a day to over a month, but the length of this one depends on ongoing political negotiations with no clear end date announced so far.
In summary:
- Shutdown began October 1, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. EDT.
- Related to deadlock over budget and healthcare subsidies.
- Last shutdown in 2018-2019 lasted 35 days.
- No clear timeline yet for resolution or reopening.
- Hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay.
- Essential services like Medicare and TSA continue operating.
