The United States government has entered a shutdown after Congress was unable to approve legislation to finance federal operations, resulting in a lapse in appropriations.
The shutdown took effect when lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill before the deadline, forcing federal agencies deemed non-essential to begin scaling back their activities.
As a consequence, hundreds of thousands of government workers have been placed on furlough, while others have been instructed to continue working without pay.
Despite the shutdown, essential services such as national security operations, air traffic control, and emergency response will remain functional. However, a range of public services—including national parks, regulatory bodies, and other non-essential agencies—are expected to experience significant disruptions.
Congressional leaders said negotiations to resolve the funding impasse are still ongoing, but acknowledged that there is no clear timeline for restoring full government operations.
The development recalls a similar episode in November 2025, when deep divisions between Republicans and Democrats over government spending and healthcare subsidies led to a shutdown that lasted more than 40 days.
A US government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass the necessary budget bills or temporary funding measures required to keep federal agencies operating at the start of a new fiscal year.
