The Brief

WASHINGTON - The government officially shut down overnight after Congress failed to pass a funding measure before the 12 a.m. Wednesday deadline.

A shutdown happens when lawmakers fail to pass budget bills or a short-term funding measure, known as a continuing resolution, to keep agencies running. When that happens, many federal services pause, federal workers are furloughed, and Americans may feel ripple effects across daily life.

A stop sign is seen in front of the US Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2025. The United States government was barreling towards its first shutdown in six years Tuesday, with funding expiring at midnight barring a breakthrough on dead Expand

What closes during a government shutdown

Why you should care:

The most visible closure

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