US Government Shutdown 2025: The United States could face another government shutdown soon as lawmakers in Washington fail to agree on how to fund the government. Republicans and Democrats are divided over spending priorities, and no compromise has been reached yet.
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The GOP has suggested a short-term plan to keep the government funded through November 21, but Democrats want changes in health care, like undoing Medicaid cuts from President Trump’s law and extending tax credits for Affordable Care Act insurance. Republicans have rejected these demands, making a deal seem unlikely.
US Government Shutdown 2025: Will it Happen?
If the shutdown happens, federal agencies must stop operations under the Antideficiency Act. Some employees will be furloughed, which means they are sent home without pay. Others, called “excepted” staff, will keep working if their jobs protect life and property, but they also won’t get paid until the shutdown ends.
During the 35-day partial shutdown in Trump’s first term, about 340,000 of 800,000 affected federal workers were furloughed, while the rest continued working without pay. This included FBI agents, CIA officers, air traffic controllers, and military personnel.
Important Services will Keep Running
Even during a shutdown some programs continue because they are mandatory spending. Social Security will still pay retirees, and Medicare will keep working, letting seniors see doctors while providers submit claims. Veterans Affairs will also keep services running. VA hospitals and clinics stay open, benefits are processed, and burials at national cemeteries continue without delay. The U.S. Postal Service also works normally because it funds itself through sales rather than taxes.
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Government shutdowns happen when Congress and the president can’t agree on funding bills or short-term fixes. Without legal permission to spend, many government programs stop, but important ones like Social Security and Medicare keep running.
Shutdowns don’t mean the government is out of money. They happen because politicians can’t agree on where to spend, what rules to include, or how much to borrow. The longest shutdown in US history lasted 35 days from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019 caused by arguments over money for a border wall with Mexico.
