The operation of the federal government in the US is on the brink of the cliff if Congress does not reach an agreement to approve a new funding by Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

Republicans have proposed extending government funding to current levels by November 21, so that members of Congress can continue to work on bills. The Democrats made a proposal to keep the government open until October, but added provisions on health care and limitations to President Trump’s ability to withhold funding, which both are unacceptable for most Republicans.

The two sides remain unstoppable in their positions, increasing the chances of stopping on Wednesday. Congress leaders met with President Trump at the White House on Monday to look for a solution, but left empty -handed.

What is shutdown

The shutdown of the government or Shutdown occurs when Congress does not approve funding for some or all services that cannot spend money approved by legislators. Since 1980 there have been 14 holidays, with the latest being in 2018. This interruption lasted 34 days.

Most of the federal government services are funded annually by a dozen bill on the approval of credit, which must be passed by Congress and signed by the President before the start of the new financial year on October 1st. These are often grouped into a large legislative text, known as a “federal bill”, in order to accelerate the process when Congress has to vote many of them at the last minute.

If the funding deadline expires without Congress approved more expenses, the government must close completely or partially, depending on which services have already been funded. Prior to the deadline for this year, none of the 12 bills on approval of credit has been voted on. Some services have received funding from “a big, beautiful bill” voted by Republicans earlier this year, which means that some programs and functions in some ministries will continue to be funded in the event of a stoppage, notably the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior.

Legislators regularly save more time to complete expenditure bills, voting on what is known as a “ongoing decision”, which temporarily expands current levels of funding to keep the services in operation while working to reach an agreement on new costs.

The Constitution stipulates that the Ministry of Finance cannot spend money without the law to allow it. According to a law known as Antideficiency Act, services are required to discontinue their activities – with some exceptions – if there is no funding approved by Congress. The law, which was first passed in 1870 and has suffered several significant revisions since then, also prohibits the government from taking on financial liabilities without the approval of Congress.

“The Ministry of Finance cannot pay money unless there is a law defining who will receive it,” said Matt Glassman, a senior researcher at the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University.

What happens during shutdown and who is affected

In the event of closing, the federal government must stop all unnecessary functions until Congress funding is approved and the law is signed, with the exception of programs funded by other means, such as fees or other legislation. Each service determines which work is necessary and which is not. Members of Congress make the same decision for their staff.

“The Ministry of Finance cannot be made available, regardless of whether you are necessary or not. However, there are three exceptions for those who can continue to work and undertake, even when there are no credits, “Glassman said.

These exceptions are defined by the Antideficiency Act law. They allow the government to finance activities to protect life and property and maintain in their place, officials involved in the constitutional process, such as the president, his staff and members of the Congress.

All active military, many law enforcement officers and officials in hospitals funded by the Federal Government are considered necessary, along with air traffic auditors and transport security officers. Each service decides which of its employees can continue to work.

In one step that is different from previous interruptions, the Budget and Management Office requested last week by the federal services to consider permanent mass redundancies for programs or projects that expire on October 1 or have no alternative sources of funding. Alerts to reduce staff will be added to the license notifications issued during a break, according to a note sent to the services.

“The programs that have not benefited from the injection of mandatory credits will suffer the consequences of the interruption and we must continue our planning efforts if the Democrats decide to close the government,” the note said.

Regardless of whether or not employees are necessary, whether their remuneration depends on annual credits, they will not be paid during the stoppage.

The necessary employees continue to work during the stoppage, but are not paid until their organization funding is restored. Officers in unnecessary positions are usually made available until the government is funded again, although this could be different this time if there are extensive redundancies. According to the 2019 law, employees who are free of charge are guaranteed that they will receive their remuneration retroactively as soon as the shutdown is over.

A Senate report published in 2019 found that the government’s operation in 2013, 2018 and 2019 cost about $ 4 billion taxpayers, including at least 3.7 billion dollars in retrospective earnings to workers on leave.

What remains open and what closes during a shutdown

Benefits such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid continue to operate during a shutdown, because benefits are funded through permanent credit that do not require renewal. Benefits payments continue to be made, but the budgets of the organizations that supervise the programs require Congress approval. This means that staff can be made available, causing delays in registering new beneficiaries or other interruptions of services.

“Any type of interaction at the level of customer service with the federal government could certainly be affected,” Glassman said.

For example, flights could be disturbed if air traffic controllers and airport safety, which are necessary employees, do not appear in their work in protest for their non -immediate payment. Many national parks remained open during the last break in 2018 and 2019, but the lack of staff led to vandalism. Parks were largely closed during the 2013 breakdown. US Postal Service continues to operate as it is self -funded.

Maya MacGuineas, chairman of the Commission for a responsible federal budget, said the public may not understand the implications of whether the shutdown is short -lived.

The truth is that most people will not feel much difference, “MacGuineas said. “If you have scheduled a holiday in a national park, you will be upset and frustrated. But most people will continue their daily lives, interact with the government in the same way and do not feel much difference. This could get worse, as long as it lasts, “he said.

The Senate report found that the closure of 2018-2019 had a widespread impact on a variety of government functions that stopped or restricted during the termination of funding. He noted that licenses in many services, such as the sec, the Federal Committee of Commerce and the Consumer Product Security Committee, prevented law enforcement and investigations. The report said the Ministry of Justice canceled 60,000 immigration issues.

The implications could be even more intense this time, given the possibility that the government will use the closure to apply mass redundancies, promoting the president’s goal to reduce the federal workforce.

When was the last shutdown of government

The last shutdown of the government lasted from December 2018 to January 2019, when Congress’s funding for nine ministries ended with about 800,000 officials.

The five -week partial shutdown cost $ 11 billion in the economy, according to a report by the Congress Budget Office (CBO).

Businesses across the country reported a slowdown in their activity and some said they were forced to dismiss employees. Tens of thousands of immigration hearings in courts were annulled. Government contractors found it difficult to pay their bills.

The shutdown was triggered by a debate over Trump’s request to fund $ 5.7 billion to build a wall along the border with Mexico. .

Trump retreated after weeks, signing a government’s reopening bill for three weeks, while Congress was negotiating an agreement on expenditure.

Three weeks later, he signed a compromise bill on expenditure in order to avoid another government closure, eventually accepting a bill that did not meet his request for $ 5.7 billion for the wall at the border.

When did the biggest shutdown occurred

Prior to the early 1980s, the government usually continued to operate as usual, even when no funding bills were passed, but this changed after issuing opinions by the Attorney General, according to which it was illegal for the government to spend money without the approval of Congress.

Since 1980, there have been 14 breaks in operation, most of which lasted just a few days.

The longest shutdown in US history was the break of 2018-2019, which lasted 34 whole days. Prior to that, the record was 21 days in 1995 and 1996, when Proder Bill Clinton opposed the abrupt cuts of costs and taxes supported by Republican Speaker of the House, New Gingrich.