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The US government is currently in shutdown. Parts of the federal administration are at a standstill because Democrats and Republicans have been unable to agree on a transitional budget.
US shutdown: Impact on the government and population
The US government has been shut down since October 1, 2025. This means that large parts of the federal administration are currently on hold. The last shutdown took place in 2018/2019 and lasted 35 days. It is still unclear how long the current shutdown will last.
- The shutdown was triggered by an escalating budget dispute in Congress, with Democrats and Republicans unable to agree on a transitional budget. Without funding, many federal agencies lack the legal basis for their work, causing large parts of the administration to come to a standstill.
- Security-related services remain in operation. These include intelligence agencies such as the FBI and CIA, soldiers, air traffic controllers, and airport staff. In addition, social benefits such as pension payments, Medicare, and support for veterans will continue to be paid.
- However, tourist attractions such as museums and national parks, as well as numerous projects and approval procedures, are at a standstill. In addition, around 750,000 employees are on forced leave. The shutdown has noticeable consequences for the population.
- According to BR24, the current budget dispute is also due to the “Obamacare” healthcare reform passed under Barack Obama. The aim of the reform was to give more Americans access to health insurance and healthcare services. The Democrats are demanding that these subsidies be continued, while Republicans are trying to partially dismantle them. However, the shutdown itself is the result of the general failure of transitional financing in Congress.
- Although Republicans have a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, most budget bills in the Senate require a 60-vote majority to end debate. Republicans were seven votes short, so they were unable to push through their proposed transitional funding.
The future of the shutdown in the United States: Possible scenarios
The shutdown could last as long as or even longer than the shutdown in 2018/2019. According to Deutschlandfunk, the shutdown is an instrument of power. Trump blames the Democrats and even refers to it as a “Democrat shutdown.”
- A bill to end the shutdown must be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and then signed by the President of the United States. At the moment, however, the fronts seem to be hardened, so an agreement may still be a long time coming.
- In particular, a long shutdown could cost many people their jobs – regardless of which party they belong to. According to Tagesschau, Vice President Vance has expressed this concern. He says that people will have to be laid off if the shutdown continues for days or even weeks.
- During the last shutdown, several Democrats in the Senate made concessions to enable a solution. The Senate is already planning new votes.
