Why is the US government shut down and how will it affect everyone?
2 october 2025 в 18:28
The US government shut down at 12:01 am on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass new funding to keep federal agencies running. Disagreements arose due to deep political divisions between Republicans and Democrats, especially regarding healthcare funding. Democrats insist that any financial agreement should include an extension of subsidies for health insurance, while Republicans believe these negotiations should be separate. Since both sides are unwilling to compromise, federal agencies, employees, and millions of Americans are facing the consequences. What remains unclear is how long this shutdown will last and how much it will cost.
Learn more about the reasons for the shutdown, which services it affects, and how long it may last below.
The shutdown began at 12:01 am on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass a new financial law for the fiscal year. The main issue was subsidies for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats are demanding that the financial package include an extension of these subsidies, while Republicans — who control both chambers — insist that healthcare should be considered separately from government spending. Disputes also arose over cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting. Since neither side is willing to compromise, the deadline passed and the government was forced to shut down.
There is no set deadline. The shutdown will continue until Congress can agree on a financial solution and the president signs it. Federal courts have announced that they can continue operating until October 17 using reserve funds, but after that, services may slow significantly. Economists warn that each week of shutdown could cost the US around $ 15 billion in GDP losses, putting pressure on lawmakers to resolve their differences. Historically, shutdowns have lasted from one day to over a month, with a record of 35 days in 2018−2019.
The longest shutdown in American history lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. It occurred during President Donald Trump’s administration due to disagreements over border wall funding. This shutdown resulted in approximately 800,000 federal employees being furloughed and caused significant disruptions in the functioning of government agencies across the country
Learn more about the reasons for the shutdown, which services it affects, and how long it may last below.
The shutdown began at 12:01 am on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass a new financial law for the fiscal year. The main issue was subsidies for healthcare under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Democrats are demanding that the financial package include an extension of these subsidies, while Republicans — who control both chambers — insist that healthcare should be considered separately from government spending. Disputes also arose over cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting. Since neither side is willing to compromise, the deadline passed and the government was forced to shut down.
There is no set deadline. The shutdown will continue until Congress can agree on a financial solution and the president signs it. Federal courts have announced that they can continue operating until October 17 using reserve funds, but after that, services may slow significantly. Economists warn that each week of shutdown could cost the US around $ 15 billion in GDP losses, putting pressure on lawmakers to resolve their differences. Historically, shutdowns have lasted from one day to over a month, with a record of 35 days in 2018−2019.
The longest shutdown in American history lasted 35 days, from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019. It occurred during President Donald Trump’s administration due to disagreements over border wall funding. This shutdown resulted in approximately 800,000 federal employees being furloughed and caused significant disruptions in the functioning of government agencies across the country
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
