The United States has entered a partial government shutdown after lawmakers failed to agree on a spending deal, leaving numerous federal operations unfunded. Until President Donald Trump and Congress reach an agreement, many services will remain disrupted.
Federal agencies have instructed hundreds of thousands of “non-essential” employees to cease work, and President Trump has hinted at possible further layoffs if no resolution is reached. “We will be looking for opportunities to reduce the size of the federal government,” White House budget director Russ Vought stated on Tuesday.
The shutdown occurred after the stopgap spending bill expired on September 30, leaving the federal government without funding. The failure to pass a new bill has resulted in the closure of several federal offices.
While some services, like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, will continue, other areas are facing limited operations. For instance, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is operating with reduced staffing, while air travel remains unaffected by the shutdown, with air traffic controllers and TSA staff continuing to work without pay.
Military personnel, law enforcement agencies, and the postal service are also unaffected by the shutdown, as they are funded through separate sources. However, services like the Small Business Administration and FEMA will experience significant cuts in their operations.
Unless Congress and the president come to a compromise, more disruptions are expected. The last major shutdown in 2018 lasted 35 days, marking the longest in US history.
