is there currently a government shutdown

Yes, as of October 1, 2025, the federal government of the United States is currently in a shutdown. This shutdown began at midnight on October 1 due to Congress failing to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. The shutdown is the first in nearly seven years and marks the 21st in modern U.S. history. It resulted from a deadlock between President Donald Trump's Republican Party and Democrats over government funding, health insurance subsidies, and federal spending levels. Around 750,000 federal employees are expected to be furloughed, with many key government agencies partially or fully suspended, while essential services continue to operate without pay to some workers. The shutdown has no immediate end in sight amid ongoing negotiations and political disputes.