The U.S. government is now three days into a shutdown as Republican and Democratic lawmakers remain deadlocked over a federal budget, according to reports. Roughly 750,000 employees of the federal workforce are expected to be put on unpaid leave, while some government services have been temporarily suspended.
The shutdown stems from a failure to pass a spending bill before Oct. 1, as Republicans control both chambers of Congress, but lacked the 60 votes needed in the Senate — giving Democrats negotiating power. Dems are now currently pushing for an extension of expiring tax credits that make health insurance more affordable, a reversal of cuts to Medicaid, and protections for federal health agencies.
A “stopgap bill” passed by the House failed to advance in the Senate, leaving essential services like Social Security and Medicare payments, border protection, ICE operations, air-traffic control, and in-hospital medical care running as usual, though in some cases without pay.
Non-essential employees and federal contractors are facing furloughs, while services like food assistance, federally funded pre-schools, national parks, museums, and research at agencies like the CDC and NIH may be delayed or paused.
General view of signage as 60-Hour Medicaid Vigil Ends with Promise: “We Won’t Get Over This Betrayal – We’re Getting Organized” on July 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Caring Across Generations)
President Donald Trump framed the shutdown as an opportunity to make further government cuts. “We’ll be laying off a lot of people,” he said on last week (Sept. 30), the day before the shutdown began. He also posted on Truth Social, “I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent.”
Both parties have blamed each other for the hold up, with House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticizing the White House and pointing out Trump directly. “Donald Trump continues to hide behind deepfake videos since the meeting in the Oval Office on Monday,” he said. “And it’s reasonable for the American people to wonder, what’s going on? Why is there no presidential leadership?”
Efforts to avoid the shutdown included a Sept. 29 meeting between Trump and congressional leaders, but “little progress was made, and both sides appeared to dig deeper into their positions,” according to reports.
How long the shutdown lasts will depend on whether Republicans and Democrats can reach a compromise.
According to CBS News, Republicans could negotiate healthcare extensions demanded by Democrats, or Democrats may eventually give in to reopening the government. This marks the first government shutdown in nearly seven years. The last major closure in 2018 lasted 35 days and was triggered by disputes over border wall funding.