The United States government has been shut down for 30 days now. This shutdown has many negative effects and remains unknown when it will end. These shutdowns begin when Congress fails to pass an appropriations bill or to fund federal government operations, or when the president refuses to sign such legislation into law. As of 2025, this shutdown began because Congress failed to meet the Oct. 1 deadline to agree on a proper bill for funding in preparation for 2026. The negative effects this causes apply to federal employees who may be temporarily laid off or required to work without pay. Government services- many important services can potentially be suspended, such as national park operators or agencies like the IRS, and public health and safety important services like law enforcement and emergency responders can face effects like staff shortages and issues with funding. The last shutdown occurred on Dec.2018-Jan.2019, lasting 35 days. This shutdown included financial strain on 800,000 federal employees who worked without pay. Data from Delaware online shows that as of Oct. 21.2025, there have been over 750,000 federal employees who have been laid off. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has also been told that there will not be enough funds to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for November if the shutdown continues, which will affect millions who rely on SNAP.
Many citizens have put their votes in the Ipsos polls, which closed on Monday, Oct. 20, on who they believe had the most reason for this shutdown. The votes were based on political parties, with some parties blaming others or even themselves. Data from the hill.com shows that over 50% adults blame congressional republicans and 43% voted for Democrats, while 7% chose to skip the question. Data shows the percentages from each specific party, voters coming from the republican party 84% voted for congressional Democrats, and 14% blamed their own party. The Democratic Party voted 89% blaming the GOP, which is the Grand Old Party (republican).
According to The New York Times, Trump stated, “on Thursday, he called the government shutdown an ‘unprecedented opportunity’ to enact sweeping cuts to agencies as part of a pressure campaign that halted billions of dollars in funds to Democrat-led states and used federal websites and workers to wage political attacks.” This essentially means that they are making a reduction to government resources in an attempt to reduce pressure to potentially achieve certain political goals and aspects. This also includes the stoppage of the flow of billions of dollars that fund states. Hakeem Jeffries, who is an American politician and attorney who serves as the house minority Leader and leader of the house democratic caucus. Jeffries has put his opinion out to the public to bring awareness to this shutdown. According to CBS News, Jeffries stated,” That his republican colleagues in the lower chamber are ‘divorced from reality, ‘ and they have continued to function as nothing more than wholly owned subsidiaries of Donald Trump and his extreme administration,” the New York democrat said in response to a question about the GOP’s strategy.” Republicans have done nothing to make life better for the American people.” He said Republicans’ vows during the 2024 campaign to lower prices have not been fulfilled, citing the cost of housing, electricity, child care, and more. “And now, because of Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of Americans are about to experience these dramatically increased health care premiums, such that they will be unable to see a doctor when they need one, when their children need one, or when their family needs one,” he said. “At the end of the day, this is about the health care of the American people. And this is about driving down the high cost of living.”
Jeffries added later that “Donald Trump definitively needs to get involved” to kickstart negotiations over ending the shutdown.”
No one is sure when this shutdown will end; it is up to Congress when they decide to pick and pass the bill.
