why has the us government shut down

The US government shutdown in October 2025 happened because Senate Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a funding bill to keep the government operating. The main dispute was over healthcare funding, with Democrats demanding the continued enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, while Republicans wanted a short-term funding extension without those conditions. This deadlock resulted in Congress missing the funding deadline, leading to a shutdown where most non-essential government services were halted and many federal employees furloughed without pay. Both parties blamed each other for the shutdown, and the situation reflected ongoing political polarization in Congress, especially during President Donald Trump's administration, which has been focused on reducing federal government size and spending.