U.S. Federal Government Shuts Down After Senate Rejects Funding Bills

Key Takeaways:The U.S. federal government officially shut down on October 1, 2025, the first in nearly seven years.The shutdown follows the Senate’s rejection of bipartisan funding bills on September 30.Hundreds of thousands of federal employees face furloughs or layoffs, with multiple services suspended.Critical operations remain active, including the military, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, FAA, and Postal Service.The U.S. federal government has entered a shutdown after the Senate failed to pass bipartisan funding legislation by the September 30 deadline. At 12:01 a.m. local time on October 1, the government began suspending operations, marking the second shutdown in nearly seven years.White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young issued a directive late Monday instructing agencies to begin executing their “orderly shutdown” plans.The shutdown impacts a wide range of federal services, leaving hundreds of thousands of employees furloughed or facing layoffs. However, essential functions remain operational, including national defense, law enforcement, air traffic control, and postal services.