U.S. Federal Government Status
Is the Government
Shut Down?
The federal government is currently operating normally. All agencies are funded.
The easiest way to see whether the U.S. government is shut down.
No
Latest coverage
6 linksHeadlines from major outlets (RSS). Fallback links apply if the feed is unavailable.
Lawsuit says U.S. immigratoin agencies illegally shared confidential information on Iranian asylum seekers with Iran - PBS
PBS/20h ago
For some federal employees, America’s extravagant 250th birthday parties arrive amid anger, uncertainty and fatigue - CNN
CNN/5d ago
Hamas says it has dissolved its government in Gaza to transfer power to a UN-backed committee - PBS
PBS/2d ago
Trump's actions signal a move toward institutionalizing people with disabilities, advocates warn - PBS
PBS/6d ago
White House report accuses Smithsonian leadership of radical ideology - CNN
CNN/2d ago
Four Black women. Nine degrees. Not one steady paycheck. - The Washington Post
The Washington Post/Jun 28
Why shutdowns happen
- 01Every fiscal year, Congress needs to pass appropriations bills (or a stopgap "continuing resolution") to authorize government spending for agencies and programs.
- 02If those bills don't pass before the previous funding expires (usually September 30), there's a funding lapse — meaning no legal authority to spend on many operations.
- 03Under the Antideficiency Act, government agencies are prohibited from incurring obligations (i.e. spending money) without an appropriation. That law forces the government to shut down non-essential functions during a funding gap.
- 04Politically, shutdowns usually emerge when parties (or branches of government) clash over budget priorities — what gets cut, what gets expanded, how much to spend, etc. These fights often include policy demands tied to funding (so it isn't just dollars, it's also politics).
Frequently Asked Questions
What you need to know about government shutdowns.