The U.S. government is currently in a shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass the necessary funding legislation for the new fiscal year. This is the third day of the shutdown, and it is expected to continue past the weekend.
Here's a breakdown of the current situation:
* No Deal Yet: The Senate has not reached a deal on a spending bill, with both Republican and Democratic proposals failing to meet the 60-vote threshold.
* Upcoming Votes: The next vote in the Senate is scheduled for Friday, but a weekend vote is considered "unlikely," meaning the shutdown will likely extend into next week.
* House Activity: The House of Representatives is reportedly working on a new bill to send to the Senate.
* Impact of Shutdown: Many federal agencies are operating with limited staff, leading to delays in regulatory approvals, permits, and federal contracts. Non-essential operations have ceased, and non-essential workers are furloughed.
* Essential Services Continue: Essential services, such as Social Security, Medicare, veterans benefits, military operations, air traffic control, and federal law enforcement, continue to operate.
* Potential Layoffs: The White House is considering permanent layoffs for federal workers, potentially in the thousands, which is a departure from the usual practice of temporary furloughs during a shutdown.
* Military Pay: Military service members continue to work, and their October 1st pay was disbursed. However, future paydays may be impacted if the shutdown extends beyond two weeks.