Government Shutdown 2025 Update: What’s Going On

Jaspreet Singh
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The U.S. federal government has entered its longest shutdown ever, beginning on October 1, 2025, after funding lapsed when competing bills failed in the Senate.  The root of the standoff lies in disagreements over spending levels, protections for federal workers, and the continuation of health-care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Root Causes and Political Deadlock

Photo via aljazeera

Congress entered the new fiscal year without passing the required appropriations bills. The Senate considered a Democrat bill that included an extension for ACA subsidies, and a Republican “clean” funding bill that would have funded agencies at existing levels until November 1.  As the shutdown extended, the Mike Johnson-led House remained largely out of session, increasing pressure.

Impact on Workers, Services & Economy


By late October, the shutdown had begun to bite: more than 500,000 federal employees missed a full paycheck, agencies began laying off staff, and SNAP food-assistance payments were at risk.  The federal aviation regulator reduced flight capacity; national museums closed; states scrambled to continue services normally handled with federal funding.  Economists warned the uncertainty and scale of disruption were already hurting regional economies dependent on federal employment.

Breakthrough Emerges — But Final Steps Remain

On November 9–10, the Senate advanced a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) that could reopen the government. Eight Democrats broke ranks to join Republicans in a 60-40 vote.  The bill would fund the government through January or beyond and guarantee back pay for workers, but does not include the ACA subsidy extension Democrats had sought.  The House will now need to vote, and the measure must be signed by Donald J. Trump before operations resume.

What Happens Next and What It Means

If the CR passes, furloughed federal workers will be paid retroactively, services will restart, and the shutdown will officially end. However, Congress still faces a December 2025 showdown over the ACA subsidies, which were central to the original impasse. The record-setting duration of this shutdown underscores how routine funding mechanisms are now entangled with high-stakes policy fights.

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Jaspreet Singh

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