Government Shutdown?

Diya Ravi

September 26, 2025

On September 30, a government shutdown may occur if Congress cannot reach a funding agreement. Although Republicans control both Congress and the White House, they still need at least seven Senate Democrats to approve the spending bill. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has stated that his party will not agree to the bill unless it includes provisions such as extended Affordable Care Act subsidies. A proposed short-term bill would fund the government for seven weeks and allocate additional funds for security, which is a priority for Republicans. President Trump appears disinterested in compromising; he canceled a meeting with Democrats and labeled their demands as “unreasonable.”

This shutdown may differ from previous ones if no agreement is reached. Programs that do not align with Trump's priorities could face budget cuts. During his first term, Trump dealt with a shutdown that lasted 35 days. 

Government agencies must obtain funding approval from Congress each year. If they fail to do so, these agencies will shut down until the necessary funds are approved. While sometimes only partial funding is secured, there is a possibility of a complete shutdown this time, since none of the twelve major spending bills have been passed yet.

If nothing is passed by midnight on September 30, the shutdown starts on October 

Essential services, such as law enforcement, border patrol, and Social Security, typically continue to operate during a government shutdown. However, many other programs are put on hold. In previous shutdowns, food inspections were halted, immigration hearings were canceled, and students faced difficulties obtaining IRS documents necessary for financial aid. During a shutdown, federal workers may be furloughed or required to work without pay, though they usually receive back pay afterward. Contractors, on the other hand, generally do not receive back pay.

Shutdowns have resulted in the closure or limited operation of services in national parks, leading to millions of dollars in lost tourism revenue. Occasionally, some states step in to financially support the parks themselves. While air travel typically continues, as TSA and air traffic controllers are considered essential, the absence of paid workers may lead to sick calls, causing significant delays.

These shutdowns hurt the economy because federal workers tend to spend less when they are not receiving paychecks, which means businesses also lose income that cannot always be recovered. For instance, the shutdown from 2018 to 2019 resulted in a loss of $3 billion in economic growth. Travel organizations warn that a similar shutdown could cost the economy $1 billion each week.