From October 1st, 2025, to November 12th, 2025, the United States government shut down. A government shutdown is, in the plainest terms, a forced stop to almost all nonessential operations and services the government provides. The term “nonessential services” refers to those that are deemed unnecessary to the protection of national security, public health/safety, or property. These services had to stop due to a lack of funding, which results from either Congress’s inability to pass or the refusal of a presidential signature on one or more of the “annual appropriations bills” (essentially, the budget).

The most common reason for this inability to pass the budget is partisan disagreements. It may also result from controversial amendments to the appropriation bill. This is arguably a horrible situation for the government to be in, no matter political beliefs, it affects every American citizen. The latest government shutdown occurred because Democratic senators, who did not agree with proposed cuts to some healthcare services, refused to support a stopgap measure, which would have extended government funding into November 2025. A stopgap measure is temporary legislation that is passed to ensure continued government operations and prevent disruptions, providing more time for Congress to come to a resolution or compromise.

Employees of the department(s) or agencies forced to shut down, are most impacted by the closure. Most workers are furloughed, put on unpaid leave, or others who are considered essential workers are forced to work without pay. Such workers are typically compensated for their unpaid labor after the appropriations bill is enacted, but those who don’t work at all are stuck without income. Businesses and contractors the government employs can face bankruptcy as a result and the country as a whole can face slowdown of services like issuing passports, processing loads, issuing grants, maintaining public areas, and conducting food-safety inspections. Additionally, programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) may be suspended, putting Americans at risk for food insecurity.

While some programs like Social Security, Medicare, the Federal Reserve, and the U.S. Postal Service remain functional (due to outside funding or other measures to protect them), the longer the U.S. government is shutdown, the greater economic damage it causes. All in all, from the 1970s to present day there have been 22 government shutdowns, ranging from Republican to Democratic Presidents, proving the point that it does not matter what political party you are on; to keep this country running, we must exercise consideration and compromise.

References

Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). government shutdown. Britannica School. Retrieved December 10, 2025, from https://school.eb.com/levels/high/article/government-shutdown/63947