On October 1, 2025, the United States Government began a shutdown at 12:01 AM due to a lack of congressional action regarding funding for the 2026 fiscal year. The disagreements stemmed from arguments about federal spending, health insurance, and foreign aid. This government shutdown, being the 11th in US history, the first government shutdown since 2019, and the longest to date, has resulted in the temporary unemployment of approximately 900,000 federal workers and about 2 million unpaid workers 

Essential workers for companies like Medicare, Medicaid,  and the Transportation Security Administration continued under the shutdown, while other agencies like the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took on full or partial stoppage of operations. The Department of Defense took the biggest hit of furloughed workers. Partisan disagreements and laying of blame made for a challenging road to agreement. 

Congress has agreed to meet day after day until a solution or majority bill is passed in the white house concerning the funding. Even though the Democratic party is the minority in both the House and the Senate, their approval will be crucial if any bill is to be passed. 

Despite the challenges, there is hope. Despite the prevailing challenges and political tensions, there remains a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Ongoing discussions within Congress are centered around crafting a bipartisan bill that could effectively reopen the government, provided that negotiations yield a framework that satisfies both sides and secures the necessary votes to move forward. The urgency to find a resolution is palpable, and many are watching closely as lawmakers work tirelessly to restore normalcy and ensure that federal services can resume without further delay.