You might have heard that the United States government has “shut down” as of October 1, 2025. This means that parts of the US government have ceased functioning because they have exhausted their funds to operate. It’s a significant issue that affects millions of people, and it can be quite confusing. Don’t worry—this blog will explain it in simple terms. We’ll cover what a shutdown is, how the US government works (including what Congress is), why the two main political parties are at odds, the history of shutdowns, and what services stop functioning immediately.
What is Congress? Understanding How the US Government Works
In India, we have a Parliament, comprising the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, which makes laws and manages the country’s budget. The US has something similar called Congress, which is like its Parliament. It’s the part of the government that makes laws and decides how to spend money.
Congress has two parts:
- House of Representatives: This is like the Lok Sabha. It has 435 members, chosen based on each state’s population (bigger states get more members). They serve for two years and are meant to represent the common people. Think of it as the fast-moving part of Congress, quick to react to what people want.
- Senate: This is like the Rajya Sabha. It has 100 members (two from each of the 50 states, no matter the state’s size). Senators serve for six years, so they tend to think more long-term, like wise elders who slow things down to avoid mistakes.
Together, the “House of Representatives” and “Senate” make up Congress, and their most important job is to decide how the government spends money. Every year, they must pass a budget (called “appropriations bills”) to fund things like schools, hospitals, roads, and the army. The US President suggests a budget, but Congress must approve it. If they don’t agree by the deadline (October 1 every year), the government runs out of money, and a shutdown happens.
Here’s the tricky part: the President can say “no” (veto) to a budget, and Congress needs a lot of votes (two-thirds in both the House and the Senate) to ignore the veto. Additionally, the Senate has a rule that requires 60 out of 100 Senators to agree to even begin discussing a bill, which makes the process slow and cumbersome. This setup is meant to stop one person or group from having too much power, but it often leads to fights and delays—exactly why we’re in a shutdown now.
The Two Big Parties: Republicans and Democrats
The US has two main political parties, just as India has parties like the BJP and Congress. These are the Republicans and Democrats, and they often disagree, which can lead to shutdowns.
- Republicans (symbol: elephant): They want a smaller government that spends less money and lowers taxes. They focus on things like business growth, strong police and army, and traditional values (like family and religion). They’re popular in villages and smaller towns. For example, they pushed for big tax cuts in 2017 to help businesses.
- Democrats (symbol: donkey): They want the government to help more people, like providing healthcare, protecting the environment, and supporting equal rights for everyone. They’re popular in big cities and with younger people. For example, they passed a healthcare law in 2010 called the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, to help people obtain medical insurance.
Both parties have strengths. Republicans excel at keeping their supporters united and focused on issues such as safety and job creation. Democrats are skilled at bringing together diverse groups, such as workers, minorities, and students, to advocate for change. However, when they can’t agree on the budget—such as now, when they are fighting over healthcare costs and border security—a shutdown occurs. It’s like when two teams in a tug-of-war won’t budge, and everyone gets stuck.
A Look Back: The History of US Government Shutdowns
A shutdown happens when Congress and the President can’t agree on a budget by October 1. This isn’t new—it’s happened many times before. The idea of a shutdown originated in the 1980s, when a rule was established that government offices must cease operations if they lack sufficient funds.
Since 1976, there have been 20 instances when funding stopped, resulting in 10 major shutdowns that led to the government actually closing for days. Here are some big ones:
- 1980s: Under President Reagan, there were a few brief shutdowns (2-3 days) due to budget fights.
- 1995-96: Under President Clinton, two shutdowns lasted 5 and 21 days because of arguments over welfare programs.
- 2013: A 16-day shutdown under President Obama over funding for healthcare (Obamacare).
- 2018-19: The longest shutdown ever, 35 days, under President Trump, over money for a border wall.
- 2025: The current one, starting October 1, over healthcare and immigration issues.
Shutdowns are more common now because the two parties are more divided than ever. In the past, they worked together more, but today, even small disagreements can stop everything.
What Stops Working? Essential vs. Non-Essential Jobs
When a shutdown happens, the government sorts jobs into two types: essential and non-essential. Essential jobs continue (although workers may not receive payment until later), while non-essential jobs are halted, and those workers are sent home without pay.
What Closes Right Away?
- National Parks and Museums: Places like Yellowstone Park or museums in Washington, DC, are closed. Tourists can’t visit, and businesses nearby suffer financial losses.
- Government Offices: Tasks such as obtaining a new passport or visa may slow down or stop completely.
- Science and Research: Projects like medical research or space programs (NASA) pause unless they’re critical.
- Tax Services: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) halts activities such as reviewing tax returns, resulting in delays.
Essential Jobs (keep working, often unpaid for now):
- About 25-30% of the 2.1 million government workers are essential. These include:
- Airport security (TSA) and air traffic controllers work together to keep planes safe.
- Police, border guards, and army soldiers are to protect the country.
- People who send out pension checks (like Social Security, similar to India’s EPF).
- Hospital workers in government clinics.
Non-Essential Jobs (stop working, no pay):
- Office workers, park rangers, and individuals responsible for distributing educational funds are sent home. In the 2018-19 shutdown, about 380,000 workers were furloughed (told not to come to work).
- This hurts workers who don’t get paid and local shops that depend on their money.
Certain things, such as pension payments or mail delivery, continue uninterrupted because they have separate funding. However, other services, such as processing new visas for Indian students or workers, can become stuck, resulting in significant delays.
Why It Matters and What’s Next
A shutdown is like a power cut in a big house—it affects everyone differently. For Indians, it might mean delays in US visas, slower trade deals, or even fewer American tourists visiting India. It illustrates how the US system, despite its strength, can become stagnant when people disagree.
The good news? Shutdowns usually don’t last long—most end in a few days or a week when Congress makes a deal. Right now, leaders are talking to fix this, and we might see progress soon.