#USGovShutdown The US government has officially shut down as of October 1, 2025, due to Congress's failure to pass appropriations bills, resulting in funding gaps for numerous federal agencies. Here's what's happening ¹ ²:
- *Shutdown Cause*: The shutdown stems from partisan disagreements over federal spending levels, foreign aid rescissions, and health insurance subsidies, with Republicans and Democrats unable to reach a bipartisan agreement.
- *Impacted Agencies*: Many federal agencies, including the General Services Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Education, and Department of Commerce, have been affected, with some furloughing a significant percentage of their employees.
- *Federal Employees*: Approximately 900,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, while an additional 700,000 may work without pay. Essential services like national security, law enforcement, and healthcare will continue, but many other programs face delays or closures.
*Key Effects:*
- *National Parks and Museums*: Closures and suspension of maintenance, trash collection, and visitor services.
- *Health Services*: FDA inspections, NIH research, and CDC operations may be limited, posing public health risks.
- *Immigration Courts*: Hearings canceled or delayed, creating significant backlogs.
- *Social Assistance Programs*: Programs like WIC may face funding shortages if shutdowns extend beyond a week.
- *Travel and Tourism*: The US Travel Association warns that a shutdown could cost the travel industry $1 billion per week.
*Economic Consequences:*
- *Lost Economic Activity*: The Congressional Budget Office estimated a significant loss in economic activity during the 2018-2019 shutdown.
- *Market Volatility*: Investors worldwide may reassess risk, leading to market volatility ³.
