U.S. gov't in brink of shutdown over fiscal policy disagreements, threatening vitality of programs for Americans

As of September 29th 2025, the United States government is at the brink of a federal government shutdown due to disagreements over how to make a agreement over funding as it is set to expire on midnight September 30th, threatening many aspects of the government including vital programs for Americans.

An aerial view of the U.S. Capitol in the foreground toward National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC, Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress.

President Trump on Monday afternoon convened a meeting between top Republicans and Democrats at the White House, with the goal of negotiating a deal quickly to avert a shutdown. However, no deal was reached, with the White House accusing Democrats of jeopardizing critical funding for veterans, seniors, and public safety, as they aim to pursue a government shutdown to avoid spending cuts.

The America First Policy Institute, one of the largest conservative political organizations in the nation, argued, "The only way to keep our country on the path to delivering the America First Agenda and meaningful change is for Congress to consider and pass a clean CR before the September 30th deadline. Continuing America’s comeback success means funding our government. Failing to protect our economic and national security interests at home and abroad would diminish this momentum."

According to Reuters, if the shutdown proceeds tomorrow, significant portions of federal agencies will be affected The Department of Health and Human Services, if such an event takes place, will furlough 41% of its employees, including 64% of the CDC staff and 75% of the NIH staff. Furthermore, essential programs like Medicare and Medicaid will largely remain in place with some significant changes in distribution as more personnel get discharged, with 86% of employees retained by the FDA and 53% by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will halt the release of September's jobs report if such a government shutdown takes place, lengthening economic uncertainty across the stock market.

Joshua Sewell, the director of research and policy at Taxpayers for Common Sense, expressed concern that the Trump administration will use the shutdown to expand executive power at the expense of other agencies and programs.

"I believe this memo indicates OMB will pursue a dual path of shutdown-related furloughs and a separate process of mass layoffs," Sewell stated. "This certainly indicates the administration wants to cut these agencies and programs at any opportunity either now or in the future."

And Rachel Greszler, from the same source, believe that Democrats' push for the shutdown to pass their healthcare funding demands could backfire as the gov't could pursue further layoffs.