Politics

Can Congress Avert a Government Shutdown? What’s at Stake and Who’s to Blame

Congress faces shutdown if spending deal fails. A full shutdown is expected.

byEditorial Staff

September 30, 2025, 8:14 AM

The U.S. Capitol Building with its dome and grand staircase under a cloudy sky

The iconic U.S. Capitol Building, featuring its grand dome and imposing staircase, stands under a cloudy sky. By MDL.

Executive Summary

Congress faces a full federal government shutdown starting October 1 if lawmakers fail to pass any of the 12 required appropriations bills.

The path to avoiding a shutdown is uncertain due to legislative gridlock, particularly the narrow Republican majority in the House and the lack of 60 votes in the Senate.

This potential shutdown follows the longest in over 40 years (2018-2019), which was a partial shutdown lasting 35 days and costing an estimated $3 billion in lost GDP.

The Story So Far

The impending federal government shutdown stems from Congress’s failure to pass any of the 12 required appropriations bills, a legislative impasse exacerbated by a narrow Republican House majority and the lack of a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. This situation reflects a recurring pattern of partisan gridlock in Washington, which has led to more frequent and longer shutdowns since the 1980s, including the 35-day shutdown from late 2018 into early 2019.

Why This Matters

The impending full federal government shutdown, driven by ongoing partisan gridlock in Congress, threatens a complete halt to federal services, significant economic costs similar to the $3 billion lost during the 2018-2019 shutdown, and widespread disruption for federal employees who face furlough or working without pay.

Who Thinks What?

Congress has yet to pass any of the 12 required appropriations bills, leading to the imminent federal government shutdown.

The narrow Republican majority in the House under Speaker Mike Johnson is primarily responsible for the uncertain path to avoiding the shutdown.

Congress is facing an imminent federal government shutdown, poised to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, if lawmakers fail to reach a crucial spending agreement. This potential funding lapse follows the longest government shutdown in more than 40 years, which occurred from late 2018 into early 2019. The impending shutdown would be a full cessation of government services, unlike some previous partial closures.

Impending Shutdown Details

The current Congress has yet to pass any of the 12 appropriations bills required to fund the US government for the upcoming fiscal year. This lack of legislative progress means that without a last-minute deal, federal agencies will cease normal operations.

The path to avoiding this shutdown remains uncertain, primarily due to the narrow Republican majority in the House under Speaker Mike Johnson. In the Senate, Republicans lack the 60 votes needed to overcome potential filibusters on spending legislation.

Historical Context of Shutdowns

Government shutdowns, where federal agencies are instructed to halt normal operations until Congress appropriates more money, became a feature of US politics in the early 1980s. While they were less common in previous decades, with only six since 1990, an increasingly partisan Washington has led to longer impasses over spending.

The 2018-2019 Shutdown

The most recent significant shutdown occurred from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, lasting 35 days. This made it the longest government shutdown in over four decades and cost the United States an estimated $3 billion in lost GDP, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

That particular event was a partial shutdown, as some agencies had already secured annual funding. Approximately 800,000 federal employees were affected, with about 300,000 furloughed and another 500,000 deemed essential but working without pay. Both furloughed and exempt employees ultimately received backpay once a funding agreement was reached.

Key Takeaways

As the deadline approaches, the prospect of a full federal government shutdown looms, highlighting ongoing challenges in congressional spending negotiations. The impending closure underscores a recurring pattern of partisan gridlock that has, in the past, led to significant economic costs and disruptions to federal services.