What happens during a government shutdown?

Published October 1, 2025 7:54am ET



Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will receive their furlough notices now that the government has shut down, and many government services will pause operations.

A GOP-sponsored continuing resolution requires 60 votes to be adopted in the Senate. Senate Republicans have a 53-47 majority, meaning at least seven Senate Democrats must vote in favor of the continuing resolution if all 53 Republicans vote for it. Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA), Angus King (I-ME), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) voted in favor of the resolution hours before the government shut down.

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