US government has just been shut down for the first time in years and it could affect you
The U.S. federal government has entered a shutdown after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to agree on a funding deal by the October 1st deadline. This is the first government shutdown since a 35-day closure in 2018-2019.
A shutdown occurs when Congress cannot pass, and the President will not sign, budget legislation to fund federal agencies for the new fiscal year. This freeze affects all non-essential government functions.
The political impasse happened because Republicans, who control the Senate but lack a supermajority, needed Democratic votes to pass a temporary funding bill. Democrats withheld their support to leverage policy concessions, primarily concerning health insurance subsidies for low-income individuals.
Consequently, many federal operations have halted. An estimated 750,000 federal workers are being furloughed without pay. National parks, museums, and monuments are closing, and various public services are facing delays.
While essential personnel in areas like air traffic control, law enforcement, and border protection continue working, they will do so without pay until the shutdown ends. This could lead to travel delays if unpaid workers do not report for duty.
The shutdown also disrupts critical services. The National Institutes of Health will pause admitting new patients to clinical trials, and other agencies will stop processing information requests.
The duration of this shutdown is uncertain, depending on how quickly the political parties can resolve their differences. The standoff leaves federal employees and the public facing significant uncertainty and disruption.
