when does the government shut down

The U.S. federal government is set to shut down at midnight on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, if Congress and President Donald Trump do not reach an agreement on a funding bill by then. This shutdown would occur due to the failure to approve government funding before the new fiscal year starts on October 1. If a deal is not reached, many non-essential government services will be suspended, and about 900,000 federal workers could be furloughed or temporarily laid off. Essential services and personnel, such as military members and air traffic controllers, will continue to operate but without pay until funding is restored. The disagreement mainly centers on a short-term spending bill Republicans propose to fund the government until November 21, versus Democrats' demands for healthcare provisions and Medicaid protections. The last government shutdown occurred in 2018 and lasted 35 days, making this current one a critical event to watch.