The US government is close to a shutdown. Republicans tried to pass a short-term funding bill to keep the government running until November 21, but it failed. Democrats have enough votes to block the bill because it does not meet their demands, according to Bloomberg. On Tuesday evening, the vote was 55 to 45. The Republicans need at least 60 votes to ensure the passage of the bill. The vote also showed that both parties are unlikely to give in, even as the federal funding deadline approaches. What is a government shutdown, and how does it affect people? Read on..
Government funding will run out at 12:01 a.m. if the Senate does not approve a bill to extend federal funding for seven weeks. This would cause the first US government shutdown in nearly seven years. After the White House Budget Office issues a memo, the shutdown will be formally triggered.
Essential workers, including military troops, will work without pay. non-essential employees will be temporarily sent home and would not receive pay during that period. As many as 750,000 federal workers could be temporarily affected, even if United States President Donald Trump does not decide on permanent dismissals, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Trump and congressional leaders have not shown willingness to make a deal or find a compromise, according to Bloomberg. The US President also warned that many federal workers could be let go if the shutdown happens.
What is US Shutdown?
A US government shutdown happens when Congress does not pass the funding bills needed for the new fiscal year, which starts on October 1. Federal agencies are not allowed to spend money that has not been approved. Because of this, non-essential work stops, and many employees are sent home without pay. Only essential services, like those that protect lives or property, continue, though their workers may not get paid right away.
US Healthcare spending- Republicans vs Democrats
The Republicans and Democrats are currently basically divided over healthcare spending. The Senate Democrats have said that they would not vote for the package unless it includes an extension of expiring health care benefits, among other demands.
According to The Guardian, the White House has escalated by threatening “irreversible” actions during the shutdown, including mass layoffs of federal workers (building on 300,000 earlier in 2025) and program cuts, though legal experts note shutdowns limit, rather than expand, firing authority under the Antideficiency Act.
Public Reactions on US Shutdown
Public reaction on X (formerly Twitter) remains polarised: Some users celebrate it as a chance to “cut spending,” while others decry it as harmful to workers and services.
