U.S. government shuts down with no funding deal, furloughing 750,000 workers as Trump and Congress remain deadlocked.
By Aaron Parnas•October 1, 2025•10 min read
Congress
Good morning, everyone. We are now more than nine hours into the government shutdown, and here’s where things stand: all indications point to this shutdown dragging on for several days, if not weeks. There is still no agreement in place. Yes, the Senate is scheduled to vote on bills today—but the reality is clear: the deadlock remains, and federal workers will bear the brunt of this crisis.
I’ve spent today breaking down what this means and what’s coming next. Make no mistake: the stakes are high, and the impact will be real.
As I mentioned earlier this week, I will be offline for Yom Kippur beginning tonight at 6:30 PM EST until Thursday at 7 PM EST. I’ll be fasting—no food, no water, no electronics for 25 hours. During that time, events may move quickly, but when I return, I will give you the full update you deserve.
Tomorrow, even while I’m offline, you’ll see multiple interviews drop—critical conversations for this moment, including one with an Epstein survivor. These stories matter. They cut through the noise.
This is why independent journalism matters. This is why I refuse to flinch from the truth, no matter how inconvenient, no matter how uncomfortable. If you believe the public deserves honesty, clarity, and courage—then I ask you: stand with me. Subscribe. Share. Support this work.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
The U.S. government shut down at midnight after President Trump and Congress failed to strike a funding deal, with Democrats demanding health care provisions and Republicans pushing a “clean” stopgap bill; about 750,000 federal workers face furloughs or unpaid essential work, while parks, Medicare, and Social Security see partial or delayed impacts.
Both sides are betting the other will take the blame, echoing Trump’s 2018–2019 record shutdown, as partisan clashes, public polling, and even Trump’s use of racist AI videos against Democrats underscore deep divisions and uncertainty over how long the standoff will last.
As Washington headed into its first shutdown since 2018–19, Donald Trump drew attention by displaying red “Trump 2028” hats on the Resolute Desk during Oval Office talks with Democrats, blaming them for pushing a $1.5 trillion spending agenda while Democrats accused him of political stunts and warned they would not back down on funding priorities.
The U.S. economy lost 32,000 private-sector jobs in September, according to ADP, marking a sharp drop and adding uncertainty as the government shutdown delays the official jobs report; August’s gains were also revised down to a net loss, deepening concerns about labor market weakness as investors and policymakers navigate without key federal data.
Veterans and military leaders sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s address to hundreds of generals and admirals, calling it egotistical, insulting, and dangerous for politicizing the military, while reactions to his comments on women’s fitness standards and “lethality” highlighted deep concerns over fairness, respect, and the future direction of U.S. defense policy.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy warned that “democracy is not guaranteed to survive” amid rising partisanship in court opinions, reflecting on his legacy in legalizing same-sex marriage while expressing concern over the court’s conservative shift and its willingness to overturn precedent.
The White House pulled President Trump’s nomination of conservative economist E.J. Antoni to head the Bureau of Labor Statistics after mounting controversy: Antoni, a Project 2025 contributor and Heritage Foundation economist backed by Steve Bannon, faced scrutiny for his skepticism of BLS jobs data, his presence at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and calls to suspend monthly reports.
Walmart announced it will eliminate synthetic food dyes and 30 other additives (including some preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and fat substitutes) from all its private-label brands—such as Great Value, Bettergoods, and Marketside—by January 2027; the move, affecting over 1,000 products, aligns with growing consumer demand for “cleaner” ingredients and FDA pressure to phase out artificial colors, though reformulated items may look less vibrant (e.g., cereals, sports drinks) while maintaining taste and quality, with Walmart pledging to shield shoppers from price increases.
Trump issued an executive order pledging that any attack on Qatar would be treated as a threat to U.S. security, committing to defend the Gulf ally with diplomatic, economic, and if necessary, military measures. The move came three weeks after Israel struck Hamas leaders in Doha, killing several including a Qatari security officer, sparking outrage in Qatar and Washington.
After a massive immigration raid at Hyundai’s Georgia battery plant where hundreds of South Korean workers were arrested, the U.S. and South Korea formed a working group; Washington has now agreed that South Koreans can use temporary B-1 visas and the ESTA waiver to install, service, and repair equipment at U.S. investment sites, while also opening a new visa coordination channel at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
The Trump administration has deployed hundreds of federal officers to Memphis as part of a new crime task force, sparking protests and mixed reactions from residents, with officials stressing collaboration with local police while opponents argue resources should go to community services instead.
An international flotilla carrying aid to Gaza reported that Israeli vessels encircled its boats, jammed communications, and carried out “intimidatory manoeuvres” as it neared the blockade, escalating tensions amid drone attacks and warnings, while Italy and Spain deployed rescue vessels but vowed not to engage militarily.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a final warning for Gaza City residents to evacuate south, saying the military will tighten its encirclement and that anyone remaining will be treated as Hamas operatives or supporters. Where they should go, however, remains unclear.
Munich police shut down the Oktoberfest fairgrounds after receiving a bomb threat in a letter from the suspected perpetrator of an explosion in northern Munich that killed at least one person; authorities linked the blast to a domestic dispute, discovered booby traps and a burned-out van at the scene, and evacuated festival workers while searching for more explosives, with the world’s largest beer festival—drawing millions annually—closed until at least 5 p.m. local time.
Judge rejects Sean “Diddy” Combs’ bid to overturn prostitution-related convictions, leaving him set for sentencing Friday, where prosecutors seek 11 years and defense requests 14 months.
Government shutdown impacts:Military & VeteransActive-duty military and guard reserves continue working but without pay until funding is restored.No new orders are issued except for emergencies (e.g., disasters, national security).97% of Veterans Affairs employees remain, but regional offices close.Some benefits like cemetery headstones and grounds maintenance stop, and communication lines (hotlines, press responses) shut down.Air TravelAir traffic controllers (13,227 of them) keep working unpaid, maintaining flight operations.FAA halts hiring, training, and some safety inspections, creating potential long-term backlogs and delays.Aviation groups warned Congress that safety programs would be suspended, affecting efficiency and risk mitigation.Social SecurityPayments continue (mandatory spending), but fewer staff could slow new applications and services.Health & Human ServicesAbout 32,000 of 80,000 employees furloughed.Critical services (pandemic, flu, hurricane response, NIH clinical care) continue.Grants, contracts, and FOIA processing freeze.NIH halts new patient admissions unless medically necessary.Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Essential activities continue (drug recalls, outbreak response, food imports screening).New drug and device applications stop, non-urgent oversight halts.Cannot monitor new livestock feed ingredients, raising risks for meat, milk, and egg safety.Education & Student AidPell Grants and federal student loans keep flowing to 10M students.Borrowers must keep paying loans.95% of non-aid staff furloughed; new grant-making pauses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Outbreak response continues but with reduced staff and limited guidance to states on health issues (opioids, HIV, diabetes).About one-third of CDC staff continue working.Nutritional AssistanceSNAP benefits covered for roughly one month; longer shutdowns risk funding shortages.WIC and other programs continue only “subject to funding availability.”
Military & VeteransActive-duty military and guard reserves continue working but without pay until funding is restored.No new orders are issued except for emergencies (e.g., disasters, national security).97% of Veterans Affairs employees remain, but regional offices close.Some benefits like cemetery headstones and grounds maintenance stop, and communication lines (hotlines, press responses) shut down.
Active-duty military and guard reserves continue working but without pay until funding is restored.
No new orders are issued except for emergencies (e.g., disasters, national security).
97% of Veterans Affairs employees remain, but regional offices close.
Some benefits like cemetery headstones and grounds maintenance stop, and communication lines (hotlines, press responses) shut down.
Air TravelAir traffic controllers (13,227 of them) keep working unpaid, maintaining flight operations.FAA halts hiring, training, and some safety inspections, creating potential long-term backlogs and delays.Aviation groups warned Congress that safety programs would be suspended, affecting efficiency and risk mitigation.
Air traffic controllers (13,227 of them) keep working unpaid, maintaining flight operations.
FAA halts hiring, training, and some safety inspections, creating potential long-term backlogs and delays.
Aviation groups warned Congress that safety programs would be suspended, affecting efficiency and risk mitigation.
Social SecurityPayments continue (mandatory spending), but fewer staff could slow new applications and services.
Payments continue (mandatory spending), but fewer staff could slow new applications and services.
Health & Human ServicesAbout 32,000 of 80,000 employees furloughed.Critical services (pandemic, flu, hurricane response, NIH clinical care) continue.Grants, contracts, and FOIA processing freeze.NIH halts new patient admissions unless medically necessary.
NIH halts new patient admissions unless medically necessary.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Essential activities continue (drug recalls, outbreak response, food imports screening).New drug and device applications stop, non-urgent oversight halts.Cannot monitor new livestock feed ingredients, raising risks for meat, milk, and egg safety.
New drug and device applications stop, non-urgent oversight halts.
Cannot monitor new livestock feed ingredients, raising risks for meat, milk, and egg safety.
Education & Student AidPell Grants and federal student loans keep flowing to 10M students.Borrowers must keep paying loans.95% of non-aid staff furloughed; new grant-making pauses.
Pell Grants and federal student loans keep flowing to 10M students.
Borrowers must keep paying loans.
95% of non-aid staff furloughed; new grant-making pauses.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Outbreak response continues but with reduced staff and limited guidance to states on health issues (opioids, HIV, diabetes).About one-third of CDC staff continue working.
Outbreak response continues but with reduced staff and limited guidance to states on health issues (opioids, HIV, diabetes).
About one-third of CDC staff continue working.
Nutritional AssistanceSNAP benefits covered for roughly one month; longer shutdowns risk funding shortages.WIC and other programs continue only “subject to funding availability.”
SNAP benefits covered for roughly one month; longer shutdowns risk funding shortages.
WIC and other programs continue only “subject to funding availability.”
Good news:
UNESCO added 26 new Biosphere Reserves—an area the size of Bolivia—bringing the global network to 785 sites across 142 countries that now protect 5% of Earth’s land, advancing conservation goals while balancing biodiversity protection with sustainable human livelihoods.
Freedom Speakers International, a US-founded nonprofit in Seoul, has helped over 600 North Korean refugees gain English and public speaking skills, giving them platforms to share their stories, heal trauma, and advocate for change, while publishing books and hosting speech contests that amplify their voices worldwide.
Archaeologists uncovered 12,000-year-old life-sized camel and animal carvings in northern Saudi Arabia, likely serving as markers for seasonal water sources and cultural identity, revealing how ancient Arabian tribes signposted survival routes in the desert during wet seasons.
