why is the government shut down today

The U.S. federal government shut down today, October 1, 2025, because Congress failed to pass the appropriations legislation needed to fund government operations for the new fiscal year. The shutdown was triggered by an impasse between President Donald Trump's Republican Party and the Democrats, who could not reach an agreement on the spending bill. The main points of contention were over healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid funding cuts initiated during Trump's administration, and overall federal spending levels. Democrats demanded the extension of enhanced health insurance subsidies and reversal of Medicaid cuts, while Republicans pushed for a short- term funding measure without those conditions. The Senate failed to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster on the Republican funding proposal, and Democrats refused to support it, leading to the lapse in funding. As a result, about 900,000 federal employees were furloughed, and some government agencies partially or fully suspended operations. Essential services like Medicare, Medicaid, and transportation security continue to operate, but many others such as the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention face shutdown effects. This is the first government shutdown since 2018-2019 and the third during President Trump's tenure. The standoff reflects deep partisan divisions and heightened political tensions regarding the federal budget and policy priorities.