November 4, 2025
WASHINGTON — As of 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1, the United States government has shut down after funding from the federal government expired. The closure stems from both Republican and Democratic spending proposals failing to secure enough votes in the Senate.
Republican senators pushed a partisan, short-term spending bill that would have limited health care spending through November. In contrast, Democrats backed a long-term plan extending through the end of the year that included additional funding for health care.
Due to the shutdown, about 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed — suspended without pay — until Congress allocates new funding.
Many essential personnel, including federal law enforcement officers, FAA staff and TSA agents, are continuing to work without pay until the shutdown ends. However, some employees, such as air traffic controllers, are receiving only half of their paychecks.
A number of these workers have taken second jobs to offset the pay cut or are turning to food banks to get by. Oct. 24 marked the first day federal workers missed an entire paycheck.
On Oct. 23, Republican senators introduced a bill that would have paid federal employees and contractors during the shutdown. Despite their efforts, the measure was rejected after Democrats called for renewed negotiations.
If the shutdown continues past Nov. 1, more people will begin to feel the effects. Air traffic controllers will stop receiving pay, and people relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could lose benefits.
The impact of the shutdown has spread beyond government employees. The 2025 Orlando Air and Space Show was canceled after the U.S. Air Force withdrew the Thunderbirds from participating, leaving only civilian acts. The event’s director of public relations said the show felt incomplete without the military presence.
During the 2019 government shutdown, unpaid TSA officers and air traffic controllers stopped showing up for work, resulting in flight delays and cancellations. Officials fear a similar scenario could occur if the current shutdown persists.
There are growing concerns that the shutdown could extend into Thanksgiving — one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
As of 35 days into the shutdown, Congress has held 13 votes — all of which have failed. The Senate adjourned without reaching a breakthrough, making it likely the shutdown will extend into next week — its 34th day, matching the longest funding lapse in U.S. history.
