why did government shut down today

The U.S. federal government shut down today, October 1, 2025, because Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation to fund government operations for the new fiscal year. Both Democratic-backed and Republican-backed proposals to extend funding were rejected in the Senate, resulting in a lapse of government funding at midnight. The shutdown centered on major partisan disagreements over federal spending levels, health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid cuts, and foreign aid. Democrats insisted on extending enhanced ACA subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts, while Republicans demanded a short- term funding extension without those provisions. Neither side compromised enough to pass a funding bill with the required Senate supermajority, prompting the shutdown. This is the first government shutdown since 2018-2019 and the third under President Donald Trump's current administration. Approximately 750,000 to 900,000 federal employees are expected to be furloughed or work without pay. Some essential services will continue, but many government functions, including health agencies like the NIH and CDC, may face partial or full suspensions. The shutdown is causing widespread uncertainty and economic impacts nationally.