The US federal government has been partially shut down since October 1, and the standoff between Congress and the White House shows no signs of ending. Because lawmakers failed to pass funding for the 2026 fiscal year, all nonessential agencies have been shut down, and many other agencies have slowed operations. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are estimated to be furloughed—including 55% of the Department of Defense, totaling about 740,000 employees in one department alone—while others have been ordered to continue working without pay, according to Reuters.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that the shutdown has started to cause tangible damage to the economy. “This is getting serious. It’s starting to affect the real economy. It’s starting to affect people’s lives,” he said. Bessent also admitted that to ensure military personnel are getting paid, “[the government is] having to shuffle things around. We are having to furlough workers here in D.C. and around the country.”
While the shutdown has already disrupted many services, such as the closure of museums and delays in federal agency operations, the administration’s decision to lay off thousands of federal workers has added a new layer of crisis. As reported by GV Wire, a court filing from the Department of Justice revealed that 4,108 federal workers have officially been laid off since the beginning of the shutdown.
White House Budget Director Russel Vought has made it clear that this number is only the beginning. Appearing on The Charlie Kirk Show, he said: “That’s just a snapshot, and I think it’ll get much higher. I think we’ll probably end up being north of 10,000.”
But the administration’s plan to use the shutdown to force workforce reductions has hit a significant roadblock in court. US District Judge Susan Illston of San Francisco has temporarily halted the government from moving forward with widespread layoffs amidst the shutdown, ruling the actions may violate legal protections. Illston pointed to remarks made by Trump and Vought as proof that these cuts might not be purely administrative, claiming that agencies perceived as “democratic” were being targeted, according to Reuters.
The human toll is urgent. Federal offices are largely shuttered or operating on skeleton crews. Agencies like the IRS, public health divisions, and educational services are all seeing delays. Some workers have lost access to key systems, and with HR and email access shut down, employees report being left in the dark. In one report, an education department employee said simply, “I don’t have email access.” Others, such as TSA officer Cameron Cochems, have described the government’s approach as feeling “like they’re intentionally using us as political pawns, and they intentionally want to make our jobs and lives unstable.”
On the political front, both Democrats and Republicans are digging in. Republicans insist they will not approve funds tied to liberal priorities, while Democrats refuse to support reopening the government unless cuts to health care subsidies and Medicaid are reversed. As stated by Politico, the Senate has already failed multiple times to pass stopgap funding bills, short-term spending bills to fund government operations temporarily. No clear compromise has emerged.
At the same time, public pressure is mounting. Advocacy groups, unions, and many citizens are demanding a resolution. The court’s temporary block on layoffs gives some breathing room for affected workers, but it does not resolve the deadlock in Congress.
Until lawmakers reach an agreement, the shutdown will undoubtedly continue to cast a wide shadow as services remain suspended and employees are threatened with dismissal or forced into unpaid work.
