The United States government officially shut down on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees in uncertain financial situations. According to the Congressional Budget Office, about 750,000 federal employees are expected to be furloughed each day throughout the shutdown. In addition to that, hundreds of thousands more must continue working without pay until funding is restored, based on estimates from federal agencies. These essential employees include critical staff such as air traffic controllers and border patrol officers.
The shutdown began early Wednesday after the Senate failed to pass a short-term funding bill that would have kept the government open through November 20. The measure fell short of the 60 votes required, passing only by a 55-45 margin. All but two Democratic senators opposed the bill. Led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Democrats pushed for an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and for the reversal of about $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts included in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance have responded to the impasse with threats of permanent job cuts. The Office of Management and Budget recently directed federal agencies to prepare layoff plans for programs “not consistent with the president’s priorities” if the funding lapse continued, according to a memo published by PBS. Labor unions have already filed lawsuits against the move, claiming that it violates federal law.
What a Shutdown Means and Who is Affected
Congress is required each year to approve funding for the government’s new fiscal year, which begins on October 1. When lawmakers fail to meet that deadline, a shutdown begins. The last major shutdown took place in 2018 during Trump’s first term and lasted for 34 days.
During a shutdown, agencies split employees into two categories. “Excepted” employees are those who must keep working without pay, often in areas tied to national security or public safety. “Non-excepted” employees are placed on unpaid leave and instructed not to report to work. While federal employees are guaranteed back pay once the shutdown concludes, contractors are not covered by that same protection.
