The U.S. federal government shutdown began at midnight Eastern Time on October 1, 2025, following Congress's failure to pass funding legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. This marked the first government shutdown in nearly seven years and occurred due to a budgetary dispute between Republicans and Democrats, primarily over proposed Medicaid cuts and the extension of expiring health insurance tax credits. As of October 14, 2025, the shutdown has lasted 14 days with no resolution in sight.