The U.S. federal government shutdown began at 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 1, 2025, due to Congress's failure to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. The shutdown will continue until Congress agrees on a funding bill, with no clear end date currently in sight. Both Republicans and Democrats remain at an impasse over key issues, including health insurance subsidies and budget cuts, making the resolution uncertain. Past negotiations and shutdowns show that the stalemate may continue until one side concedes or significant public pressure mounts, but as of now, no deal has been reached to end the shutdown.
Shutdown Start and Impact
- The shutdown started at midnight on October 1, 2025.
- It has led to furloughs for around 900,000 federal employees and forced many agencies, including NIH and CDC, to partially or fully suspend operations.
- Essential services like Medicare, Medicaid, TSA, and Social Security continue to operate.
Reasons for the Shutdown
- The failure to pass appropriations legislation stems from partisan disagreements.
- Democrats want to extend enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act and oppose budget cuts to health programs.
- Republicans control Congress and the White House but have not compromised on their budget demands.
Prospects for Resolution
- No concrete timeline exists for the shutdown's end.
- Both sides blame each other and are unwilling to budge on core demands.
- Previous shutdowns have lasted from days to weeks; this one may continue until pressures force a deal.
