On Oct 1, 2025, the U.S. government shut down for the first time in almost seven years. The shutdown resulted from a culmination of disagreement between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare policies, which prevented them from reaching an agreement on a spending plan for October and beyond. This had major consequences, as in the U.S. system, agreement on a spending plan must be reached to supply all funding for the U.S. federal government.
Since the shutdown began, stopgap bills, which are temporary funding measures, have been proposed and repeatedly rejected by both parties in at least five votes so far. Democrats want a $1 trillion addition to health-care funding, a reversal of the Trump administration’s cuts to Medicaid, and an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of this year. In addition, they oppose Republican cuts to funding for healthcare agencies. Republicans, on the other hand, have pushed for short-term funding that will allow the government to operate through November 21, as well as increased security for lawmakers following the death of Charlie Kirk.
Currently, Republicans control both chambers of Congress: the Senate and the House of Representatives, meaning they have a majority of members in both chambers. However, they lack around eight votes in the Senate that would satisfy the 60-vote majority necessary to pass the bill, which leads to a standstill period of negotiation. However, Republicans and the Trump administration have generally refused to negotiate with Democrats, with the White House seeming willing to allow the shutdown to last.
The shutdown has led to temporary reductions or closures of federally funded services, such as National Park Service sites and the Smithsonian Museum. Only essential services are expected to operate as usual. These include border protection, law enforcement, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents (ICE agents), as well as medical-care workers. A point of contention involves Congress members, who are still being paid. All non-essential workers have been temporarily furloughed, a mandatory leave without pay. As such, thousands of flights have been canceled due to a severe shortage of air traffic controllers. Benefit verification and card issuance for Social Security and Medicare may be halted. Contractors have been furloughed. Food assistance and pre-school programs have been reduced or closed. All 433 National Park Service Sites remain partially open with limited facilities for visitors. Grants and scholarships funded by the federal government may stop. The U.S. Postal Service will continue running as it is not funded by Congress. Schools, which are state-funded, will also continue running. Overall, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy describes a large number of workers calling in sick, reaching as low as 50 percent in some areas.
Recently, a major issue both sides have been concerned about is the October 15 paycheck for military personnel. In response, Trump posted on Truth Social: “I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.” The Office of Management and Budget has confirmed that it plans to use two years’ worth of research funds to pay troops. Trump also posted on Truth Social, blaming Democrats for this issue. Democrats in the House of Representatives and the Senate pushed for a single piece of legislation that would ensure pay for troops last week
The shutdown represents a major conflict and key issue in the U.S. today, with significant consequences for the future of the U.S. The severe impacts will have profound effects on both the entire nation and the CA community.
CNBC - Trump administration begins layoffs of federal workers amid government shutdown
Layoffs of federal workers begin during the US government shutdown
Trump administration budget chief Russell Vought wrote: “The RIFs have begun,” referencing the acronym for Reductions In Force
Confirmed by Vought’s The Office of Management and Budget: “RIFs have begun and are substantial.”
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett: Lack of stopgap funding deal from Congress => Trump starts taking “start taking sharp measures” => Democrats blame
Not typical practice to permanently fire federal employees during government shutdown, furloughed (temporary disemployment)
American Federation of Government Employees and AFL-CIO workers unions file lawsuits
Vought announced via tweets, cut of billions of dollars of federal funding for Democrat controlled areas
Trump administration and Republicans in Congress blame Democrats for causing the shutdown and its consequences
CNBC - Senate again rejects funding bills as government shutdown enters second week
Senate rejects opposing Democrat and Republican funding proposals to end shutdown
Opposing funding proposals have already been rejected in five previous votes
Democrats want a funding bill that include health-care protections => extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expire at the end of this year
Shutdown began on Oct. 1, 2025
Republicans want short-term funding that will continue government through Nov. 21 as well as increased security for lawmakers following the death of Charlie Kirk
Democrats want $1 trillion in additional health-care funding and an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies
Republicans currently require around 8 more votes from senators in the Democratic caucus to pass short-term funding and overcome 60-vote filibuster rules
Republicans and the Trump administration have generally refused to negotiate with Democrats
Reuters - Who's to blame for the shutdown? All of the above, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds
Blame spread across both pirates for shutdown
67% said Republicans deserve blame, 63% said Democrats do as well
Less appeal for mass firings of federal employees by Republican voters
NBC - Trump authorizes troop pay amid government shutdown
Trump posted on Truth Social: “I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS,”
Lawmakers and Trump administration officials of both parties have raised concerns about military members not being paid on Oct. 15, 205
The Office of Management and Budget has confirmed that it plans to use two years worth of research funds to pay military members
On a Truth Social post, Trump blamed democrats for military members potentially not receiving pay
In September, the House of Representatives, including all Republicans and nearly all Democrats, voted to pass a temporary funding bill that would prevent the government from shutting down and running on the same amount of funds through Nov. 21
Not enough Democrats in the Senate have supported that bill
Instead they propose a temporary “funding measure” that would keep the government running through the end of October and restore cuts to Medicaid
Extend extensions for the Affordable Healthcare Act
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D expected the White House to find a solution to paying troops for Oct. 15
Referenced many American, particularly federal employee, families living paycheck-to-paycheck
Democrats in the House of Representatives and the Senate pushed for a single piece of legislation that would ensure pay for troops last week
BBC - Why the US government has shut down and what happens now
Only essential services will continue to operate as normal
Border protection, law enforcement, ICE agents, and medical-care workers are expected to operate the same as usual
Thousands of canceled flights due to a shortage on air traffic controllers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy - a large number of workers calling in sick, in some areas as low as 50% of usual staffing
Social security and Medicare continue, benefit verification and card issuance may stop
Non-essential workers have been temporarily furloughed (without pay), the same applies to contractors
Agencies including the CDC and NIH have furloughed many workers
Food-assistance and pre-school (e.g. the Smithsonian Museum) programs have been reduced or closed
433 National Park Service Sites will remain partially open with limited facilities
Previous looting and vandalism of sites in previous shutdown
US Post will continue running, not Congress funded
Schools will continue running, state-funded
Grants and scholarships may stop as they are funded by the federal government
Congress members are still being paid
Previously, shutdowns were viewed as disruptive of everyday life and damaging to lawmaker reputations