Government Shutdown

Extracted Attributes

• Definition

  Occurs when the legislative branch fails to pass key bills funding or authorizing executive branch operations, leading to the cessation of some or all government functions.

• Impact on Public

  Reduced public trust in politics, service and program disruptions.

• System Type (Presidential)

  Executive branch typically has authority to keep government functioning even without an approved budget; shutdowns are periodic.

• Impact on Federal Employees

  Furloughed or required to work without pay.

• System Type (Parliamentary)

  Stalemates less likely; executive must maintain legislative approval; budget failure typically triggers an election.

• Affected Services (Essential)

  National security, public safety (e.g., inpatient/emergency medical care, air traffic control, law enforcement, border security, disaster aid, power grid maintenance) continue but may face disruptions.

• Primary Cause (United States)

  Failure to pass appropriations bills before existing ones expire.

Timeline

• Government shutdowns began occurring periodically in the United States. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1980

• During a shutdown, air traffic controllers worked without pay, causing widespread delays and a temporary halt of incoming flights at LaGuardia airport. (Source: Web Search Results)

  2018-2019

• The most recent government shutdown in the United States occurred. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2025-10

• Representative Ro Khanna attributed a looming government shutdown to a constitutional clash over spending between Congress and the Joe Biden administration. (Source: Related Documents)

  Future (looming)

Government shutdown

A government shutdown occurs when the legislative branch does not pass key bills which fund or authorize the operations of the executive branch, resulting in the cessation of some or all operations of a government. Government shutdowns can reduce public trust in politics. In presidential systems, the executive branch typically has the authority to keep the government functioning even without an approved budget. Government shutdowns in the United States have occurred periodically since 1980, and are the result of failure to pass appropriations bills before the previous ones expire. The most recent shutdown happened in October 2025. Shutdowns of the type experienced by the United States are nearly impossible in other forms of government. Under the parliamentary systems used in most European nations, stalemates within the government are less likely, but the executive must maintain the approval of the legislature to remain in power (confidence and supply), and typically an election is triggered if a budget fails to pass (loss of supply).

Web Search Results

• Government shutdown continues as White House weighs ...

  Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said House Republicans did the "logical, simple, good-faith thing" by passing a clean continuing resolution to keep the government open, while criticizing the Democrats' proposal to fund the government. Asked whether President Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought are looking to use the shutdown as an opportunity to shrink the size of the federal government, Bessent said "what they want is what's good for the American people and what's good for the country," pointing to the House-passed continuing resolution. House Speaker Mike Johnson told "CBS Mornings" on Thursday that Republicans and Democrats are not currently engaged in negotiations to end the government shutdown.

• Government Shutdown FAQs - Congressman Salud Carbajal

  **In the absence of an approved appropriations bill or a CR, the government faces a shutdown due to lack of authorized funding.** What government services and programs are impacted during a government shutdown and what effect does this have on the public? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- During a government shutdown, essential services related to national security and public safety like inpatient and emergency medical care, air traffic control, law enforcement, border security, disaster aid, and power grid maintenance, continue,**though they may face disruptions.** For instance, **during the 2018-2019 shutdown, air traffic controllers worked without pay, causing widespread delays and even a temporary halt of incoming flights at LaGuardia airport.** What happens to federal employees during a shutdown? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Shutdowns are detrimental to both the public, who face service and program disruptions**, and federal employees, who are either furloughed or required to work without pay.

• Government Shutdowns: Causes and Effects

  [Search](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#overlay-search) [](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#) [Home](https://www.brookings.edu/)[](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/) [](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/) * [Contact](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#) ##### Contact * [Share](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#) [Search](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#overlay-search) [](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#) [Sections](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#) * [Why do government shutdowns happen?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#why-do-government-shutdowns-happen) * [What happens when a shutdown occurs?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#what-happens-when-a-shutdown-occurs) * [What about the courts and Congress?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#what-about-the-courts-and-congress) * [How does a continuing resolution work?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#how-does-a-continuing-resolution-work) * [Contact](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#)##### Contact * [Share](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#) [](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/) * [Why do government shutdowns happen?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#why-do-government-shutdowns-happen) * [What happens when a shutdown occurs?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#what-happens-when-a-shutdown-occurs) * [What about the courts and Congress?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#what-about-the-courts-and-congress) * [How does a continuing resolution work?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#how-does-a-continuing-resolution-work) * [What happens when a shutdown occurs?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#what-happens-when-a-shutdown-occurs) * [What about the courts and Congress?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#what-about-the-courts-and-congress) * [How does a continuing resolution work?](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#how-does-a-continuing-resolution-work) [Read more from](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/) The Hutchins Center Explains * [See More](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/) [U.S. Economy](https://www.brookings.edu/topics/u-s-economy/)* [U.S. Government & Politics](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/#) Sub-Topics Why it matters to everyone.](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/is-the-credibility-of-us-government-data-at-risk-why-it-matters-to-everyone/) * [Cookie Preferences](https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/)

• 2025 Government Shutdown | Congressman Greg Stanton

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• How the government shutdown will affect Americans

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