# U.S. Government Faces Historic Full Shutdown with No Resolution in Sight
The United States government is currently experiencing its longest full shutdown in history, with no resolution in sight. This 22-day period marks the second-longest in U.S. history, following a previous record of 35 days under President Donald Trump in 2013. Thousands of federal workers have been placed on furlough or laid off, and essential staff, such as congressional aides, continue to work without pay. The shutdown has paralyzed numerous government agencies due to a lack of funding. Both parties are at an impasse, with the House passing a seven-week extension of fiscal year 2025 funding, and the Senate struggling to secure the necessary votes to pass a spending plan. Democrats are pushing for an extension of Obamacare subsidies, while Republicans accuse them of using the shutdown as a political weapon, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to resolve the crisis.
The ongoing government shutdown has broken new records as Democrats and Republicans remain far apart on federal spending. A full government shutdown occurs when the fiscal year ends on September 30, and Congress has not passed any of the 12 single-subject appropriations bills. Both the House and Senate have passed three separate appropriations bills each, but they have yet to align on a version of the spending measure, leading to the paralysis of most agencies and programs reliant on discretionary funds. The shutdown, now 22 days old, is also the second-longest in U.S. history. Thousands of federal workers have been furloughed or laid off, and essential staff continue working without paychecks until the shutdown ends.
Active-duty military personnel who were expected to work without pay received their pay on October 15 when the Trump administration adjusted Pentagon funding for research and development. However, it remains uncertain whether the same can be done for the next military pay period on October 30 if the shutdown continues. A partial shutdown under President Trump in 2013 saw several critical departments, including the Department of War, Education, and Health and Human Services, funded. The previous longest full shutdown occurred during President Barack Obama’s term in 2014. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., emphasized that the current shutdown is the longest in history and criticized Senate Democrats for prolonging the crisis.
The House passed a seven-week extension of FY2025 funding on September 19, primarily along partisan lines. The Senate has stalled, with the legislation failing 11 times. Democrats demand an extension of Obamacare subsidies, set to expire by the end of 2025. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., offered a vote on expiring subsidies after the government reopened, but Senate Democrats have not accepted the proposal due to distrust in their Republican counterparts. Senator Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., stated that trust among parties is essential for effective governance. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., argued that Senate Democrats made a strategic error by shutting down the government, leaving them without a graceful exit. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, criticized House Republicans for being out of session for weeks, making it difficult to exit the shutdown.