Shutdown explained: Who works, who doesn't and how much it costs
Democrats demand Obamacare subsidy extension, while Republicans push for clean funding bill as Wednesday deadline barrels near
By Alex Miller Fox News
Published September 29, 2025 10:24am EDT
The clock is ticking to fund government, and so far, lawmakers do not have a path forward to avert a partial shutdown.
The Senate returned to Washington, D.C., on Monday, and congressional leaders are slated to meet with President Donald Trump to negotiate a deal on funding the government. But the last week has seen both sides point the finger at who would own closing the government.
Lawmakers have until midnight Wednesday to pass a short-term funding extension, or else the government will close. And if it does, it would be the third shutdown under Trump.
A government shutdown happens when Congress can neither pass all 12 appropriations bills needed to fund the government, nor pass a continuing resolution (CR), which typically keeps funding levels static while lawmakers hustle to finish their work on spending bills.
Since 1980, there have been 10 government shutdowns. Only three have happened since the turn of the century.
All shutdowns are different, and the impending shutdown is no exception. However, it could have more devastating effects on the federal workforce than previous shutdowns given the administration’s orders to undertake mass firings.
Programs like Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid will continue, along with the Postal Service, Veterans' Affairs hospitals and clinics, and Immigration and Border Patrol security activities, among others. Federal employees will likely go without pay, however, and a string of agencies will see their services hampered by furloughs, like the IRS and Small Business Administration. Housing programs may also see a delay in rental assistance and loans.
Typically, shutdowns see thousands of federal workers deemed "nonessential" furloughed, but the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a memo last week that directed agencies to "use this opportunity to consider reduction in force (RIF) notices for all employees" in programs that have no other available funding source and that don’t comport with Trump’s priorities if lawmakers couldn’t fund the government.
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