why did the us government shut down

The US government shut down on October 1, 2025, because Congress failed to agree on a funding bill for the fiscal year. The primary reasons for the impasse were partisan disagreements between President Donald Trump's Republican Party and the Democrats, especially over healthcare funding, including continuation of tax credits under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid cuts. Republicans, while holding a majority, lacked the 60-vote threshold in the Senate to overcome a filibuster for their spending bill, and Democrats refused to support a Republican plan they saw as harmful to healthcare access. As a result, federal agencies had to cease non-essential operations, furlough many federal employees, and suspend some government services until an agreement is reached.