The first government shutdown occurred November 20, 1981 during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. This shutdown lasted until the 23rd and 241,000 federal employees were furloughed, or put on unpaid leave. On October 1st, 2025, this event happened again. But, unlike in 1981, this shutdown has lasted over two weeks and 750,000 employees are on unpaid leave. Like most situations in politics, this topic is nuanced and complex. This article will make an earnest attempt to explain the matter in the most effective way.
To begin, a government shutdown occurs when the House and/or the Senate cannot decide on a budget bill. On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed into effect the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”. This ambitious bill cuts $1.2 trillion in federal funding, mainly by targeting Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This bill passed the Republican led House of Representatives, but got stalled at the Senate, where the bill currently needs 60 votes in order to pass. House Democrats are demanding changes to the bill, including an extension of expiring tax credits that make healthcare cheaper, reversal of the president’s cuts to Medicaid, and fewer cuts to government health agencies.
Services deemed essential by the White House still continue, such as border patrol, law enforcement, ICE, and in-hospital medical workers. The other “non-essential” workers have been placed on furlough. Over the weekend, President Trump laid off over 4,000 government workers and intends to lay off more. “The RIF’s have begun.” said the White House Office of Management Director Russell Vought, referring to an acronym for “reduction’s in force”. President Trump has even suggested that furloughed government employees will not receive back pay. Members of Congress will continue to be paid throughout the shutdown.
The government shutdown will most likely not affect our school in any significant way, due to education being handled by the state government, not the federal. However, there are long-term consequences to this shutdown. Mr. Michael Levin, an AP Government teacher at Sewanhaka High School said, “I think that, long-term, this will have an effect on the economy because the government is not spending money.” Students also have their thoughts on this matter. Taiwo, a sophomore at Sewanhaka High School, places the blame on both sides for being unwilling to negotiate, calling the two-party system in America “disregulated”.
It is still up in the air as to when the two parties will reach a compromise, but in the meantime, the lives of the government workers and the American citizens will still be affected by whatever decision they come to, for better or for worse.
