The U.S. government shut down on Sept. 30, 2025. Our government has reached a stalemate and it is important to talk about what government shutdowns are and how it will reach and impact you.
What is a government shutdown?
Firstly, every year since 1974, the government has voted whether to fund the government for each fiscal year or not (Oct. 1 to Sept. 30 the next year). A government shutdown occurs when the government fails to pass 12 funding bills and when they cannot get a CR meaning a Continuing Resolution, which will give the government funding until Nov. 21.
Tonight, if the government fails to pass a CR, the government will shut down.
How did this come to be?
“Democrats are not voting for the bill to force Republicans to negotiate funding for federal health care subsidies. The Affordable Care Act expires this year and the Republicans want to cut the funding. Democrats are also trying to get more funding for healthcare in general.” (NPR).
In the new funding deal, the Republicans are trying to cut healthcare funding and the democrats are boycotting the bill to force the Republicans to fund healthcare services to avoid a government shutdown.
Who will be affected?
A government shutdown will mostly impact citizens who work for the federal government because they will lose funding. Another group that will be impacted are people who will have to keep working even though they won’t be getting paid. Finally, families that need healthcare support or special services will lose access to them because their branches of the government’s spending will lose their money and temporarily shut down. We can’t truly predict who will be affected but these are the most logical guesses. (CAP).
Who is involved?
This is a main battle between the majority senate leader and republican John Thune and minority leader Chuck Schumer. Both of them are at a stalemate and both refuse to agree to a compromise. The democratic stance is that if the Republicans don’t agree to their stance for new funding for healthcare, then they will send the U.S. into a government shutdown. Republicans, on the other hand, believe that the Democrats will eventually agree into the vote out of fear of loss of jobs and funding for other branches of government.
What will happen to the government?
Most likely, the government will stop funding a lot of smaller programs and government agencies, especially ones that the democrats dislike. People will be forced to work without pay. Many programs like the Department of Education will still get funding, but will be cut and the programs will suffer as a result.
“Social Security, VA and other benefits will continue, but there could be some delay in services, such as processing applications.” (NPR).
Small businesses will also lose funding as a result and many people, especially families of the lower class, will lose pay or their jobs as a result of the shutdown.
Has a government shutdown happened before?
Government shutdowns are more of a modern phenomenon and the first one happened in 1981. The most recent one was in 2018 to 2019, for 35 days, under President Trump’s first term as president. Ever since 1981, there have been quite a few government shutdowns.
What needs to happen for the shutdown to be prevented?
One side would have to cave in. The Democrats would have to give into the deal or the Republicans would have to be willing to put funding into health care.
“‘It’s now in the president’s hands. He can avoid a shutdown if he gets the Republican leader to go along with what we want,’ Schumer said Monday night, hours after Congress’ top four party leaders met with Trump for a last-ditch meeting at the White House.” (CNN).
If you want to learn more, visit this CNN link.
