Government Shutdowns and Budget Battles
Two government shutdowns occurred: a brief one in late 2025 and a record-breaking 43-day shutdown starting October 2025, the longest in US history. The shutdowns disrupted SNAP benefits, TSA operations, and federal services as Trump used them as leverage for voting restrictions and agency cuts.
Get notified of new events in this story thread
Use the search function to find specific events within a story thread.
Trump blindsided Senate Republicans by endorsing a rival House budget plan instead of the Senate proposal, causing Republican leaders to scramble ahead of a potential government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader said he 'did not see that one coming.'
President Trump backed a temporary funding bill to avert a government shutdown before Friday's deadline, calling on Republicans to support the measure which includes increased defense and deportation budgets.
House Republicans passed a Trump-backed bill to avoid a government shutdown on a party-line vote, sending it to the Senate for consideration.
Senate passed a Republican spending bill on a 54-46 vote to avert a government shutdown, with ten Democrats voting to clear a procedural hurdle, despite some progressive opposition led by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Trump signed a Republican spending bill to avert a government shutdown, though the bill passed the Senate 54-46 with some Democratic votes. Progressive Democrats expressed anger at senators who supported the measure.
Trump administration officials are seeking to cut the Snap food assistance program, with critics warning the cuts would push millions of Americans back into food insecurity.
Democrats rejected a House-passed spending bill due to healthcare cuts as a government shutdown looms. Senate Democrats blocked the funding bill on a near party-line vote, with Democratic leader Jeffries stating 'We don't work for Trump.'
Trump cancelled a scheduled meeting with top Democrats as a federal shutdown loomed, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer accusing him of 'running from the negotiating table.' Democrats had sought concessions on healthcare in exchange for government funding support.
The White House instructed federal agencies to prepare for potential mass firings in the event of a government shutdown, a more aggressive approach than previous administrations. Democrats accused the administration of using intimidation tactics in the budget standoff.
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Trump of marching the country toward a government shutdown, reflecting heightened partisan tensions over fiscal and funding matters. The warning came amid broader disagreements between the administration and Congress.
President Trump is scheduled to meet with congressional leaders on Monday to attempt to avoid a government shutdown, reversing course days after canceling a previous meeting with Democrats Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. Lawmakers face a Tuesday deadline to reach agreement on a spending measure that can secure at least 60 votes in the Senate.
Senate Democrats are preparing for a potential government shutdown, indicating they will not support a Republican spending bill unless cuts to healthcare are reversed. This positions healthcare as a key point of contention in negotiations ahead of the Tuesday funding deadline.
Trump met with Democratic and Republican congressional leaders on Monday regarding the looming government shutdown deadline, but little progress was made as both sides remained dug in on their positions. Democrats struck an optimistic tone while Republicans accused them of 'hostage-taking.'
Multiple federal agencies, including Housing and Urban Development and Veterans Affairs, posted messages blaming Democrats for a looming government shutdown in an apparent violation of the Hatch Act, which restricts federal employees' political activities. Congress failed to reach a budget deal, with a shutdown set to occur on September 30.
The U.S. government shut down on October 1, 2025, after Senate Democrats and Republicans failed to advance competing funding bills. Democrats rejected the Republican proposal citing healthcare cuts and Medicaid reductions, while Republicans blamed Democrats for refusing to back their bill.
Trump announced plans to withhold $18 billion in federal transit funding for New York-area infrastructure projects, including the Second Avenue subway and Hudson River tunnels, apparently to pressure Democrats during the government shutdown.
Trump met with budget chief Russell Vought to discuss using the government shutdown to pursue deep cuts to federal agencies, describing it as an 'unprecedented opportunity.' The White House is targeting what Trump called 'Democrat agencies' as the shutdown entered its second day.
Federal agencies are sending out-of-office messages and updating websites with partisan statements blaming Democrats for the shutdown, a practice that experts suggest may violate the Hatch Act restricting political activity by government employees.
The Trump administration froze $2.1 billion in federal funds for Chicago transit projects, with OMB director Russ Vought framing the move as action against diversity efforts in the Democratic-led city. The pause occurred amid broader budget cuts during the ongoing government shutdown.
A government shutdown continues as Democratic and Republican funding proposals both failed to reach the 60-vote threshold in the Senate. The Trump administration continued using the shutdown to justify canceling billions of dollars in federal funding for projects tied to Democratic initiatives.
Economic experts warned that the United States is 'flying blind' at a critical moment for the economy, as no jobs data has been released during the government shutdown. Trump administration officials have so far declined to publish closely-watched jobs data that was collected before the shutdown began.
The Trump administration is facing legal challenges and criticism over its implementation of immigration policy, with Democrats pushing back against what they characterize as misinformation about healthcare for undocumented immigrants at the center of a government shutdown dispute.
The government remained shut down for a fifth day as Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Chuck Schumer traded accusations of bad faith in negotiations. Johnson stated Trump does not want permanent job cuts while talks remained stalled over the weekend.
Trump raised the possibility of reaching a shutdown deal with Democrats on healthcare, then walked back his comments. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denied that any meaningful negotiations were underway, saying the administration has 'refused to talk with us.'
The U.S. government entered its second week of shutdown as the Senate rejected competing funding bills. Trump hinted at a possible deal with Democrats over healthcare subsidies, while the White House announced furloughed federal workers would not be entitled to back pay.
The IRS announced it will furlough nearly half its workforce due to the government shutdown. A White House memo suggests furloughed workers may not receive back pay, despite a law Trump signed in his first term guaranteeing such compensation.
The government shutdown deadlock deepened as senators rejected competing budget bills from both sides, with no senators changing their votes from recent days. Air traffic controllers warned of escalating delays as airport staffing shortages continue into the shutdown's second week.
Senate deadlock continues over a government shutdown with the seventh round of votes failing to yield a breakthrough. Trump reiterated threats to cut funds for "Democrat programs" as negotiations remained stalled.
The White House announced that federal layoffs have begun during a government shutdown, with the head of the Office of Management and Budget confirming that reductions in force had started. Trump stated that cuts would target his opponents' priorities.
The White House announced federal worker layoffs as the government shutdown approached its third week, with Trump suggesting layoffs would be concentrated in Democratic areas. The AFL-CIO challenged the legality of the layoffs in court.
Trump administration officials announced that military personnel would be paid during the government shutdown, with the president directing the Pentagon to release funds on October 15. The administration claimed to have identified funds without new Congressional appropriations.
Federal workers are expressing anxiety over threats of firings and withheld back pay amid the U.S. government shutdown, with employees stating they feel they are being 'used as political pawns.'
The Smithsonian Institution announced it would temporarily close its museums, research centers, and the National Zoo due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The U.S. Senate rejected a Republican plan to end the government shutdown for the eighth time in a 49-45 vote, with Speaker Mike Johnson refusing to negotiate with Democrats. The shutdown entered its second week as Congress remained deadlocked over legislation.
Trump announced his administration would produce a list of 'Democrat programs' to be closed due to the shutdown, promising to release the list by Friday. The president said the administration was 'closing up Democrat programs that we disagree with, and they're never going to open again.'
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from firing government workers during the ongoing shutdown, ruling that the White House Office of Management and Budget improperly took advantage of the shutdown to terminate employees. Labor groups are challenging the administration's threatened cuts to federal positions.
The U.S. government shutdown extended into its third week after the Senate failed its ninth vote to resolve the impasse. Democrats and Republicans blamed each other for inflexibility while federal workers faced disrupted paychecks.
A federal court approved a temporary injunction blocking the Trump administration from carrying out mass layoffs of federal employees as the government shutdown entered its third week. The US Senate also failed for the tenth time to pass a vote to end the shutdown.
The U.S. government shutdown continued to stretch toward its fourth week with no resolution. Trump has reportedly shown little concern about ending the shutdown and has pushed Democratic opponents to further entrench their positions.
The Senate voted for the eleventh time on government shutdown legislation but failed to reach agreement on a 50-43 tally, with Congress remaining deadlocked following the weekend 'No Kings' protests.
Democrats are urging Trump to become more involved in negotiations to end a government shutdown. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democratic leaders have called on Trump to take a more active role in spending talks.
California announced $80 million in funding and a National Guard deployment to assist food banks amid federal shutdown, with Governor Gavin Newsom criticizing Trump for 'endangering people's lives' as the shutdown delayed food benefits.
US firearms examiners were declared 'essential' shutdown workers after gun-lobby pressure, allowing Americans to resume purchasing firearms while other government services remained suspended during the shutdown.
The federal government shutdown continues with SNAP (food stamps) funding set to end November 1, putting nearly 42 million people at risk of losing benefits, which some characterize as 'the greatest hunger catastrophe since the Great Depression.'
US airports reported over 20 air traffic controller shortage incidents in a single day during the ongoing government shutdown, marking one of the highest numbers recorded since October 1, according to the Transportation Secretary.
The government shutdown stretched into its 28th day, with the Senate failing for the 13th time to pass Republican spending legislation. Federal food assistance benefits for low-income families are set to expire on November 1 due to the shutdown.
Two dozen states sued the Trump administration over planned food stamp suspensions amid the government shutdown. The states argued that the Agriculture Department was legally obliged to use a $5 billion SNAP contingency fund to continue benefits for 42 million Americans.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the second time this year to a range between 3.75% and 4% amid economic uncertainty from the government shutdown and Trump's tariffs. The U.S. government shutdown is estimated to cost the economy between $7 billion and $14 billion.
The government shutdown is imperiling food assistance programs, with New York, Oregon, and Virginia issuing emergency declarations to fund food banks and help with SNAP benefits. The shutdown threatens to leave hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid and suspend food stamps.
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from suspending SNAP benefits for millions of Americans during the government shutdown. One judge issued a temporary restraining order while another ruled the government must continue funding the program that helps low-income households.
Trump called on Republicans to abolish the Senate filibuster rule to end the government shutdown. He characterized Democrats as 'stone cold crazy' and said the 'nuclear option' was necessary to conclude the deadlock.
A judge ordered the Trump administration to make food stamp payments within days, in a written order following a court ruling that the administration must pay SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.
Food banks are rushing to stock supplies as SNAP benefits are set to lapse during the government shutdown, which has entered its second month, with Trump officials confirming that benefits will cease.
Trump is using a government shutdown to advance his agenda while cutting food benefits to millions, with Republicans claiming the president has tried everything to end the shutdown while food assistance programs face delays.
Trump stated in a 60 Minutes interview that the government shutdown will end only when Democrats agree to his demands, saying 'If they don't vote, that their problem.' The shutdown continues to impact federal benefits, with contingency funds allowing the administration to provide half of normal SNAP food assistance payments to nearly 42 million recipients in November.
The U.S. government shutdown reached its 35th day with the Senate rejecting a funding package for the 14th time. The Trump administration warned that continued shutdown could force closures of U.S. airspace due to severe air traffic controller shortages.
Senate Republicans struck down a Democratic proposal to fully fund SNAP (food assistance) during the government shutdown. The Trump administration authorized the Department of Agriculture to fund only half of food stamp benefits using contingency funds, affecting 42 million Americans.
The U.S. government shutdown entered its 36th day on November 4-5, becoming the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, surpassing the previous record set during Trump's first term. Federal workers continued working without pay as votes to end the shutdown failed to yield breakthroughs.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund Snap food benefits in November, rejecting the administration's attempt to only partially fund the program amid the ongoing government shutdown.
The U.S. government shutdown stretched to its 37th day, the longest in history, with federal workers reporting harassment and bullying from Trump officials while working without pay. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to cut airline traffic by 10% at 40 airports if no solution was found.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund food stamp (SNAP) benefits by Friday, ruling that the administration 'failed to consider the harms' of its cuts. The Supreme Court subsequently issued a temporary stay of the lower court order, allowing Trump to maintain curtailed funding amid ongoing legal disputes.
The Supreme Court blocked the administration's request for full Snap food aid payments following a White House request, after a federal appeals court had denied the administration's attempt to block an order to distribute November's full monthly food stamp benefits.
The Trump administration directed states to 'undo' expanded SNAP food assistance payments to families, following a court ruling during the government shutdown. This directive came after a Supreme Court order allowing Trump officials to pause food aid payments.
The U.S. Senate advanced a funding bill to end the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history after 40 days. Eight Democrats and one independent voted with Republicans to advance the bill, which still requires House passage and Trump's signature.
SNAP workers expressed concerns about Trump administration policies affecting food assistance, stating the administration is 'using the country's poorest as pawns' in response to potential funding cuts to the nutrition program during the government shutdown.
The Senate approved a funding package on a 60-40 vote to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, though the bill did not include key healthcare concessions demanded by Democrats, notably an extension of tax credits for Affordable Care Act plans. Eight Democrats broke ranks to vote with Republicans on the measure, sparking criticism from within their own caucus.
The U.S. Supreme Court extended a pause on full payment of SNAP food benefits for November, affecting 42 million Americans and creating continued uncertainty about the benefits during the longest government shutdown in history.
The House began voting on a bill to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, with Democratic leaders vowing to vote against it while Republican leaders expressed optimism the legislation would pass.
Trump signed a bill to end the longest US government shutdown in history after 43 days, with the House passing the measure 222-209 along largely party lines. The shutdown had disrupted federal operations, flights, food benefits, and government employment.
The U.S. government reopened following a shutdown, allowing air traffic controllers to return to work with promised full back pay and a $10,000 bonus, ensuring normal air traffic for the Thanksgiving holiday period.
Tens of thousands of people were detained and deported by immigration agents during the recent U.S. government shutdown, as ICE continued enforcement operations while most other government functions halted.
Senate Democrats reached a deal to avert a partial government shutdown by splitting the Department of Homeland Security funding bill from other funding packages, with Democrats demanding provisions to restrict ICE enforcement activities. The agreement came amid tensions over Trump administration immigration policies.
The U.S. Senate approved a deal to fund the government and begin discussions on ICE restrictions after Democrats refused to vote for homeland security funding following the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. A partial shutdown was still expected to begin after Friday midnight and last through the weekend.
A partial U.S. government shutdown continued amid a funding standoff, with Speaker Mike Johnson expressing confidence that disagreements over Department of Homeland Security funding would be resolved by Tuesday.
Trump signed a $1.2 trillion funding bill to end a partial government shutdown, with the Department of Homeland Security funding extended only through the following week and negotiations over immigration enforcement expected to continue.
The Department of Homeland Security began a partial shutdown after funding expired without Congressional agreement, affecting approximately 13% of the federal civilian workforce while DHS operations remained funded.
The Senate again failed to pass homeland security funding, with a vote of 51-46 as the partial government shutdown approached one month in duration. Democratic Senator John Fetterman broke with his party to support reopening the department.
Travelers in the U.S. continue to face significant delays at airport security amid a DHS shutdown, with staffing shortages intensifying screening times as TSA workers have gone weeks without pay.
Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports on Monday, citing a stalemate over Department of Homeland Security funding in the Senate as negotiations between Republicans and Democrats broke down.
Trump threatened to deploy ICE agents to US airports to conduct security operations if congressional Democrats do not immediately agree to fund airport safety measures. Border czar Tom Homan indicated that 14 airports across the country would be involved in the operation.
TSA airport security lines stretched for hours as Trump deployed ICE immigration agents to assist, citing staffing issues during a partial government shutdown. The White House claimed immigration agents could help manage long lines while TSA agents remained unpaid.
Trump told Republicans to hold firm in shutdown negotiations and not make any deal, using the Department of Homeland Security funding standoff as leverage to pass a strict voter ID bill, which critics say would burden eligible voters.
TSA workers are struggling during a second government shutdown compounded by ICE agents being deployed to airports to manage long security lines. Workers report being 'in the middle of chaos from political games' as Senate Republicans negotiate with Democrats to reopen DHS.
Democrats shut down a DHS funding deal proposed by Republicans, as the standoff continues over agency reforms. Republicans' proposal would restart almost all DHS operations but excluded key reforms that Democrats sought.
The Trump administration announced plans to sign an emergency executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA agents immediately amid a funding standoff, as airports face severe travel disruptions with hours-long security lines.
Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay TSA agents after House Republicans rejected a Senate-passed DHS funding deal. The directive came as TSA staff shortages caused major disruptions at U.S. airports during a 42-day partial shutdown.
A six-week partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security is now the longest partial shutdown in US history. If it continues past the weekend, it will become the longest shutdown of any kind.
TSA employees received back pay after Trump's executive order, with airport wait times appearing shorter as workers received payment for two complete paychecks.
Republican leaders agreed to advance a funding deal to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The measure would fund DHS but exclude money for ICE operations.
Trump signed an executive order declaring all Department of Homeland Security staff will be paid during the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has entered its 49th day—the longest in US history.
91 events in this story · Browse all stories · Back to top ↑