The United States government shutdown entered its first whole month, causing the closure of numerous public institutions and leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees unpaid.

Lawmakers are at odds over a short-term spending bill that would reopen the government, and the negotiations are still ongoing. House leaders of both parties have been unable to reach a compromise, and the Senate is not expected to hold any votes until October 7, 2025.

The current standoff may soon turn into one of the longest shutdowns in American history, House Speaker Mike Johnson cautioned. Johnson urged Democrats to approve the Republican led temporary funding bill, and told reporters on Monday that unless they abandon their political demands, they are all headed for one of the longest shutdowns in American history.”

“I think when you look at our political parties today, there are pretty profound differences in their ideology and priorities, and so sometimes requiring that those parties agree on spending levels is a difficult task,” Tyler Shaw said.

Democratic leaders have rejected the plan and stated any agreement that would reverse recent medicaid cuts implemented under President DonalTrump’s’s administration and extend support under the Affordable Care Act. Senate Democrats have indicated that they will halt a short-term funding measure unless those requirements are met.

“ I think the American public loses confidence in elected officials to do the difficult task of governing. I think that federal works are probably a bit. There are some real disruptions in government services that people are experiencing, whether it be federal workers who are not getting paid and have to figure out how to make ends meet,” Shaw said.

The shut down’s effects are spreading across the country as the problem persists. After using up the reserve funds, the National Zoo and the Smithsonian museums closed on Sunday. Live cameras and public access to the zoo’s facilities have been suspended, but zookeepers continue to provide care for the animals. 

The Department of Education has been impacted, as it has laid off hundreds of workers, with the majority of those in its Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Disability advocates and educators are alarmed by the layoffs and state that there may be major disruptions to services for adults and children with disabilities.

As the funding lapse persists, “make necessary cuts…they have to come to work, you got to show up,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. 

Duffy explains that NASA will experience further cuts, and essential employees, such as air traffic controllers, must continue to report for duty, but their pay may be delayed.

In an effort to calm concerns that soldiers would not receive their next paychecks, President Trump declared that the government has “identified funds” to pay military personnel this week. Following recent talks on U.S. military assistance for Ukraine, the president is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the October 17 House on Oct. 17, 2025.

Since Secretary Kristi Noem blamed Democrats for the government shutdown in a video, the shutdown has also sparked controversy within the Department of Homeland Security. Citing federal restrictions on political content in public facilities, several major airports, including those in Portland, Seattle, Westchester County, and New York, refused to create the message.

To keep Mount Rushmore glowing during the shutdown, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden and state legislators have personally contributed money. Private donations are being gathered to continue funding the lighting if the shutdown continues.

The Bipartisan Policy Center estimated that 1.4 million federal workers are either unpaid or on leave. Across the nation, federal offices, museums, and national parks are still closed or only halfway functional, and public anger never stop.

“I feel like people are paying less attention to this government shutdown than to previous government shutdowns. I don’t know; we are collectively becoming numb to these shutdowns because they are happening more often. The stress being applied to government officials is less today than in any other government shutdown,” Shaw said.

Following Congress’s failure to pass a funding bill at the beginning of the new government budget year, the current standoff began on Oct. 1. There are no signs that the government will reopen, as both sides refuse to budge on their positions.