Posted October 2, 2025 | by KimS | in 119th Congress, DemDaily, Democratic Party, House, Senate, Trump Administration

DemDaily: When a Government Shuts Down

October 2, 2025

12:01am Tuesday night. That is when the United States government shut down.

A government shutdown is the process the Executive Branch must enter into when Congress and the President fail to pass legislation, or a budget, funding government operations and agencies, and must therefore "shut down" or suspend non-essential federal programs.

A government shutdown is the process the Executive Branch must enter into when Congress and the President fail to pass legislation, or a budget, funding government operations and agencies, and must therefore "shut down" or suspend non-essential federal programs.

On Tuesday, staffers at multiple agencies and Cabinet departments received an email from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) lambasting the pending shutdown and stating that any lapse in government funding would be "forced by Congressional Democrats."

In a clear violation of the Hatch Act and federal ethics laws, the Trump "regime" posted a banner message on the home page of government agencies, blaming the "Radical Left."

An official Veterans Affairs Department (VA) statement used even sharper partisan language: "Liberals in Congress are trying to shut down the government to achieve their crazy fantasy of open borders, 'transgender' for everybody and men competing in women's sports."

The Way It Works
The US government is funded by 12 annual appropriations bills, passed by Congress on or before each September 30th for the following fiscal year.

If lawmakers cannot come to an agreement, they may pass a continuing resolution (CR) that funds federal agencies at their current levels through an extended period to allow for further negotiation.

If they fail to pass a CR, then the US government is forced to temporarily shut down until a resolution over the federal budget can be reached.

The Standoff
The parties are at a standoff over proposals for a short-term solution, with Democrats demanding policy concessions on the looming "Republican-created healthcare crisis" and Trump’s continued interference with congressionally appropriated funds.

The enhanced health insurance premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA/"Obamacare") are due to expire at the end of the year -- disproportionately stripping working-class citizens, minority, rural and urban communities across the country of their healthcare.

Republicans have refused to bend, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) saying he is willing to negotiate an extension of the ACA subsidies, but only after Democrats vote to reopen the government.

After an unsuccessful meeting with leadership of both parties Monday, Trump -- in a bizarre action that Vice President JD Vance called "just poking fun" -- posted racist expletive-laden, deepfake memes of Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

"The Republican healthcare crisis is devastating, the likes of which no one has ever seen. Largest cut to Medicaid in American history. A possible $536 billion cut to Medicare because of the One Big Ugly Bill if Congress doesn't act by the end of the year. Tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles because of the Republicans unwillingness to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits." - Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, 10/1/25

"The Republican healthcare crisis is devastating, the likes of which no one has ever seen. Largest cut to Medicaid in American history. A possible $536 billion cut to Medicare because of the One Big Ugly Bill if Congress doesn't act by the end of the year. Tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles because of the Republicans unwillingness to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits." - Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries, 10/1/25

Status
The GOP's stopgap funding bill, HR 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026. which would extend the CR to November 21, was passed by the US House September 19 by a vote of 217 to 212. The Senate, however, has voted it down twice without the necessary seven Democratic votes needed to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold and end the shutdown.

Thune declared he is keeping the Senate in session through the weekend until the House-passed bill is approved. It is the only version, he said, that President Trump is willing to sign.

In Wednesday's vote, three Democratic caucus members signed on to the GOP resolution -- Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), John Fetterman (PA), and Angus King (ME) -- but there is no sign of any other movement. Senator Rand Paul (KY) was the only Republican to vote against the measure.

In the interim, in an attempt to ramp up the pressure, the White House has already moved to pause or cancel billions of dollars in funding meant for blue states, including $18 billion in infrastructure projects in New York and $8 billion in climate-related projects in 16 states that voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

OMB Director Russ Vought, architect of the Republicans' ultra-conservative Project 2025 manifesto, has threatened mass firings of federal employees in the coming days.

This is the 21st federal funding gap since the current budget and appropriations process was first enacted under the Budget Act of 1974. The longest federal shutdown, under President Trump's first administration, lasted 35 days -- from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019. The devastating showdown over Trump's border wall resulted in economic losses of $11 billion.

This is the 21st federal funding gap since the current budget and appropriations process was first enacted under the Budget Act of 1974. The longest federal shutdown, under President Trump's first administration, lasted 35 days -- from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019. The devastating showdown over Trump's border wall resulted in economic losses of $11 billion.

What Happens
The impact is catastrophic to an already bruised and depleted government workforce that has seen the loss of 275,000 federal jobs under the Trump administration -- the largest exodus since World War II.

Just some of the services impacted, delayed or ceased altogether:

* Federal agencies reduce their operations to what is deemed "essential" or related to national security.
* At least 750,000 non-essential civilian federal employees are being furloughed or asked to work without pay -- accounting for $400 million a day in frozen wages, according to OMB.
* 25% of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) workforce is furloughed. Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees will keep operating, although not at the same levels, and without pay.
* More than a million active-duty military service members will work without pay.
* Agencies that receive mandatory funding or are self-sufficient, such as the US Postal Service and the Federal Reserve, will continue to operate.
* Social Security checks and VA benefits will continue, but new applications will be delayed.
* The Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), which feeds more than 41 million Americans a month, will run out of funding by the month's end. WIC, the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, will run out of funds within a week unless states can access other contingency funds.
* Two-thirds of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) staff are being furloughed. Coordination with state and local health departments on key programs has ceased, as has analysis of data about infectious diseases.
* 65% of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's personnel have been furloughed.
* The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which has seen 25% of its 100,000 employee workforce slashed under the Trump administration, is funded for the first five days of the shutdown only, with no long-term contingency plan.
* The National Park Service's (NPS) 400-plus sites that can be made physically inaccessible to the public will be closed off, but other NPS sites will remain open -- with minimal staffing.
*The Smithsonian Institution, which oversees 21 museums in and around Washington, DC, and in New York City, as well as the National Zoo, will remain open -- until October 6.

A Washington Post national survey conducted Wednesday on the impact of the shutdown, shows two-thirds of Americans say they are concerned about the partial federal shutdown, with 21% saying they are “very concerned,” while a 41% plurality are “somewhat concerned.” 47% blame Trump and Congressional Republicans, 30% blame Democrats, and 23% are not sure. More Democrats (87%) blame Republicans for the shutdown than Republicans (67%) who blame Democrats. Independents are more likely to blame Republicans (50%) than Democrats (22%).

A Washington Post national survey conducted Wednesday on the impact of the shutdown, shows two-thirds of Americans say they are concerned about the partial federal shutdown, with 21% saying they are “very concerned,” while a 41% plurality are “somewhat concerned.” 47% blame Trump and Congressional Republicans, 30% blame Democrats, and 23% are not sure. More Democrats (87%) blame Republicans for the shutdown than Republicans (67%) who blame Democrats. Independents are more likely to blame Republicans (50%) than Democrats (22%).

According to the US Constitution, the only salaries the federal government is obligated to pay during a shutdown are those of members of Congress and the President. In solidarity with federal employees, elected officials can request that their paychecks be deferred while a shutdown is ongoing. Numerous Democrats have done so. The President has not.