Direct answer: As of now, the U.S. federal government is shut down due to Congress failing to pass and the President not signing new appropriations for the fiscal year, leading to a lapse in funding for many federal agencies. The stalemate centers on disagreements over spending levels, policy riders, and how to handle health insurance subsidies and other entitlement programs. The shutdown began when funding expired and has continued because negotiators have not reached a compromise that both chambers and the President will approve, despite multiple attempts to pass temporary funding or a broader budget agreement.

Context and key effects you should know:

• Duration and scope: This is one of the longest shutdown episodes in recent U.S. history, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay, and many programs operating at reduced capacity or halted.

• Services impacted: Nonessential federal services are paused or slowed; some health, research, and aid programs experience disruptions; security and essential operations continue but with limitations.

• Political dynamic: The core dispute is between spending levels and policy provisions, with parties using leverage from different negotiating positions in the House and Senate, often tied to broader political priorities.

If you’d like, I can:
-summarize the latest developments with dates and key players, or
-provide a brief explainer of how a government shutdown works and what typically resumes or remains funded, or
-check for the most up-to-date status and likely timelines.