Micah Mayberry

Note that the majority of this article was completed on November 6, 2025, and any updates since then have not been covered. See the end of the article for a web-exclusive update on the end of the shutdown.

On October 1, 2025, the government shut down for the 11th time in U.S. history and the third time under Trump’s presidency. The previous shutdown, beginning on December 22, 2018, lasted 35 days—formerly the longest in history. 

Government shutdowns occur when there is a disagreement within the government about the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The Antideficiency Act, established in 1884, prohibits “the government in any obligation [from paying] money before funds have been appropriated for that purpose, unless otherwise allowed by law.” In other words, it determines that when such a disagreement occurs, all nonessential operations must cease. 

In addition, the Impoundment Control Act reallocated the power to approve a budget and appropriate funds to Congress in 1974 in order to curtail President Nixon’s abuse of power through his rescinding of appropriations. This act prevented the president from delaying previously allocated spending for more than 45 days without congressional approval. President Trump claims he will “do everything [he] can to challenge the Impoundment Control Act in court, and if necessary, get Congress to overturn it” so that he can “squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy for massive savings.”

The 2018 funding disagreement occurred because Trump demanded $5.7 billion to build a U.S.–Mexico border. On January 25, 2019, he signed a temporary bill (called a “stopgap bill”) to reopen the government for 21 days while negotiations continued, but threatened to shut it down again if his demands were not met. In doing so, Trump ransomed people’s livelihoods: Employees did not receive money for over a month, and, as a result, Congress was pressured into approving his demands so that the country could operate and its people could be compensated. In February 2019, $1.375 billion was approved to build fencing, but he was not satisfied and declared a national emergency, allowing him to use military funding for his project. 

Currently, the government is at a stalemate regarding the budget for healthcare, specifically regarding the potential expansion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, otherwise known as Obamacare). 24 million Americans are reliant on Obamacare, but the tax credits that make it possible expire on December 1. Many Republican lawmakers do not think it is an urgent issue as of yet, but most Democratic lawmakers find it necessary, as enrollment for the ACA begins on November 1. This disagreement on funding for Obamacare has led to a standstill, wherein lawmakers on both sides of the issue are refusing to budge and an agreement on the coming year’s budget cannot be made. A survey found that 78% of American adults across party lines believe “Congress should extend the enhanced tax credits for people who buy their own insurance through the ACA Marketplace,” and 57% of people in support of the MAGA movement believed the same. 

Some services are currently suspended, and about 40% of the overall federal workforce (750,000 employees, though the number varies by source) is currently furloughed—that is, temporarily suspended without pay. In the past, furloughed employees have received backpay after shutdowns end. Regarding backpay for employees after this shutdown ends, President Trump stated, “I would say it depends on who we’re talking about.” However, all non-contract federal employees are legally entitled to backpay after a shutdown, and any attempts made at preventing backpay would likely be successfully challenged in court. Currently, one month without pay has already been enough to put people’s rent, grocery costs, and bills in jeopardy. Luckily, furloughed federal employees can typically apply for unemployment benefits, provided they meet their state’s requirements. 

The percentage of suspended furloughed employees varies by department, as some are deemed more essential than others. So, what is considered essential? Social security programs—such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and disability benefits—are deemed essential and have remained active through all previous shutdowns. 

This time, however, the Trump administration intended to cut SNAP benefits, which are given to over 42 million Americans (and over 3 million New Yorkers), by 50% on November 1. This decision was made due to “insufficient funds,” as they did not want to tap into Section 32 emergency child nutrition funds. After multiple lawsuits, SNAP was cut by 35%, instead. 

Many Americans call into question the legitimacy of this reasoning: Rhode Island Judge John J. McConnell Jr. is one such American. He stated that Trump administration officials are “withholding SNAP benefits for political reasons,” and that “Transferring approximately $4 billion to fully fund November SNAP benefits would still leave $19.35 billion in Section 32 funds, enough to fully fund child nutrition programs through May and beyond.” Attorney Kristin Bateman argues that the Trump administration has “not explained why they would choose to let 42 million Americans, including 16 million children, go hungry now … What defendants are really trying to do is to leverage people’s hunger to gain partisan political advantage in the shutdown fight.”

Further efforts are currently underway to restore SNAP completely—including a court order on November 6 by Judge McConnell Jr. to provide full November funds—though the process may be too slow for many Americans who cannot afford food and don’t have access to local food pantries or soup kitchens. Judge McConnell stated, “The evidence shows that people will go hungry, food pantries will be overburdened and needless suffering will occur … This is a problem that could have and should have been avoided.”

The military is still fully operational abroad, and only 5% of Department of Homeland Security employees have been furloughed, with ICE still fully operational. Concerningly, many of the departments with the highest shutdown rates are departments specializing in research and education, with 89% of the Environmental Protection Agency, 87% of the Education Department, and 83% of NASA furloughed. The Education Department has halted grantmaking, enforcement of civil rights laws in schools, and cases challenging the Trump Administration’s education policies. Additionally, they have partially delayed payments to Head Start programs and Impact Aid (government subsidies for school districts with large concentrations of students living on federal land). 

This pattern follows Trump’s previous mass layoffs: On April 1, 2025, nearly 25% of the Department of Health and Human Services was laid off, and more workers across all departments have been terminated since. These firings have continued even during the government shutdown, with over 4,000 employees terminated on October 11, 2025. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, former director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), stated, “The damage is beyond repair. Crippling [the] CDC, even as a ploy to create political pressure to end the government shutdown, means America is even less prepared for outbreaks and infectious disease security threats.” Trump has said that he intends for there to be “a lot” of layoffs, and that they will be “Democrat oriented.”

As of right now, the government shutdown has lasted over a month, making it the longest shutdown in history, and it is likely to continue as neither party seems willing to make a concession.

Right now, times are difficult for many Americans: those who rely on SNAP, those whose family members are furloughed, and anyone who is uncertain of their future. You don’t know what your fellow student may be going through, so, now more than ever, it is vital to give back to the community in any way you are able: Volunteer at soup kitchens, research local mutual aid directories, and donate to organizations like the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund. Do what you can.

Update November 20, 2025:

The shutdown ended on November 13, 2025, after 43 days, in the wake of extreme disruption to air travel, SNAP benefits, and other government-run programs. The funding bill was passed 222–209, with eight democrats joining the majority-republican vote, and it does not extend expiring tax credits for the Affordable Care Act, though there will be a Senate vote later this year. According to CBS News, “The legislation extends funding for most agencies until Jan. 30 and includes three full-year funding bills for other parts of the government.”

SNAP benefits were, at least in part, repaid quickly after the shutdown, and future benefits are set to be paid until September 2026, though, as economic justice advocate Victoria Negus says, “You can’t eat retroactively when your SNAP was delayed.” A memo was sent out by the USDA shortly after the shutdown ended, stating, “To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized. Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.” Instead, they demanded that states only give 65% of the backpay SNAP recipients should receive, asking that they take back any excess money already given. 

On November 13, the federal Office of Personnel Management stated that it “is committed to ensuring that retroactive pay is provided as soon as possible” for employees who were furloughed, as well as employees who were required to work without pay, and that they would receive their standard pay rate for any hours they would have worked had the shutdown not occurred. Layoffs made during the shutdown have been rescinded, and any additional layoffs may not occur until January 30, 2026. The Department of Homeland Security is also giving TSA officers a $10,000 bonus for continuing work during the shutdown because, according to Secretary Kristi Noem, “Their unsung patriotism deserves recognition.” 

There is much to be said about the longest government shutdown in American history, but one thing is certain: It’s a good thing it’s over.