The Historic 44-Day Government Shutdown: What It Was and What It Means Now
Written by Jamie Bloom
Published: December 2nd, 2025
Written by Jamie Bloom
Published: December 2nd, 2025
On Nov 12th, 2025, the longest government shutdown in American history concluded. Many Americans are wondering: truly, just how devastating was the 44-day shutdown, and how did we end up here in the first place?
A government shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass appropriation bills necessary to keep the government and federal agencies running smoothly. Shutdowns are detrimental to both the public and the economy, where services and programs are temporarily halted, and workers are either furloughed or required to work without pay. During a shutdown, only the most critical services, like national security, which entails social security and law enforcement, can continue. Moreover, government shutdowns are hard to solve as they require federal agencies such as the OMB (Office of Management and Budget) to create and carry out shutdown procedures, often diverting attention from essential public services.
A government shutdown brings about uncertainty because the impact relies on its duration. While some programs are able to operate temporarily, others are unable, creating instability that impacts the economy until the shutdown comes to a head.
On October 1, 2025, the federal government entered a shutdown as Congress was unable to pass appropriations legislation that allows the government to spend money for the fiscal year. Appropriation legislation comes in 12 different annual funding bills, each federal organization supports a different part of the federal government. When Congress is unable to write and pass 12 separate appropriations bills, signed by the President of the United States, government agencies are halted, and a shutdown begins.
Military bases, arsenals, and federal armories
Airports and Seaports
IRS facilities/Treasury
The FBI and DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration)
Federal prisons and courthouses
Transportation
National Parks, Forests, and federally managed land plots
FAFSA
Federal Nutrition Programs: WIC, SNAP
SBA (Small Business Administration)
The government shutdown impacts students in more ways than one, delaying loan processes and the services that support their families. Though a government shutdown doesn't halt student aid, the furloughing of federal workers and organizations extends to the Department of Education. In a shutdown that is longer than 1-5 days, technical assistance and guidance cease to continue in the DOE, making accessibility to technology and federal grants harder. Additionally, students whose parents or guardians are federal employees may face lost income temporarily. Altogether, the situation creates stress as well as uncertainty that impacts a student's being.
In the end, a government shutdown isn’t just about politics or the economy. The implications reach far beyond the nation’s capital. It has rippling effects on classrooms, communities, and everyday lives. It shapes not only how our federal government functions, but how families and students operate.