The United States government has entered a partial shutdown after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to reach an agreement on a new spending plan before the October 1 deadline.
The deadlock, which unfolded after days of heated negotiations, has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees facing unpaid furloughs and raised uncertainty over how long the disruption will last.
Government services deemed non-essential will be suspended, while critical functions such as the military, postal services, Social Security, and food assistance programs will continue to operate.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, up to 750,000 workers could be sent home daily without pay until a resolution is reached.
Speaking at the White House shortly before the shutdown began, President Trump defended the move, saying, “A lot of good can come from shutdowns. We’re going to get rid of a lot of things we didn’t want — and they’re Democrat things. So yes, people will be affected, and many of them are Democrats.”
Democrats, however, accused Republicans of triggering the crisis by refusing to back critical healthcare funding. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the GOP in a social media post, saying, “The Republican shutdown has just begun because Republicans wouldn’t protect America’s health care. We are going to keep fighting for the American people.”
Republicans control both chambers of Congress but fell short of the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass a stopgap measure that would have kept the government funded through late November. Democrats insisted that billions of dollars in healthcare spending — particularly for Obamacare programs serving low-income households — be restored before agreeing to any temporary deal.
House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed Democrats for prolonging the shutdown, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“How long will Chuck Schumer let this pain go on, for his own selfish reasons? Moms and kids now lose WIC nutrition. Veterans lose health care and suicide prevention programs. FEMA has shortfalls during hurricane season. Soldiers and TSA agents go unpaid.”
The shutdown is the first since 2018–2019, when the government closed for 35 days — the longest in US history. The duration of the current standoff remains uncertain, with both parties holding firm on their positions.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, reacting to the impasse, wrote on social media, “Republicans are in charge of the White House and both houses of Congress. This is their shutdown.”
Since 1976, the US government has experienced 21 shutdowns under the current budget system, but this marks the first of Trump’s second presidency.
