Government shutdown continues

LINDSEY ZARKA
GRAPHIC DESIGNER

GRACE MAIN
COPY EDITOR

10/20/2025

October 1 was marked by a federal government shutdown which has now lasted for about three weeks. This is the second time the government has shut down under Donald Trump’s authority, the first happening in 2018-2019 during his first presidency, lasting 35 days which is the longest in U.S. history. There is no end in sight for the current shutdown. 

The Senate, which has now voted at least nine times on the short-term budget bill, which was passed by the House in September, is still very split. Republicans want to pass the bill while Democrats are demanding that the bill addresses tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. While the ACA tax credits don’t expire until December, Democrats look to extend them before Nov. 1, which is when the enrollment period for the ACA starts, ensuring Americans can get better healthcare coverage. The urgency of this issue is not supported by the Republicans in the Senate, who need to get 60 votes to pass this. 

This is an issue right now after Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill passed, which cut a lot of money used for healthcare. 

“The administration’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ enacted the largest cut in the history of Medicaid, money that was used to fund enormous tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and for large businesses. Democrats in Congress are seeking to ensure continuation of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, set to expire at the end of the year — expiration of the subsidies would raise healthcare premiums by an average of 114%,” said Dr. Sandy Hulme, Professor of Political Science at Alma College. 

During a shutdown, all non-essential workers are laid off, while essential government employees are working without pay. This includes air traffic controllers and military who, unless the government is reopened, will most likely miss their next paychecks. Trump recently found about $8 billion in the Department of Defense, which was unused from last year, using that to pay the last paycheck to the military, which was on Oct. 15. However, that is only going to be enough for one pay cycle. 

Trump has also announced mass firings and layoffs amidst the shutdown. So far, there have been about 600 people cut from the CDC. 

The U.S. economy is also potentially at risk during this shutdown. 

“The last government shutdown, at the end of 2018 into 2019, lasted 35 days and resulted in a temporary loss of GDP of $29 billion, and a permanent loss of GDP of $3 billion. 

Current estimates are that 0.1% of quarterly GDP is lost each week of the government shutdown,” said Dr. Robert Cunningham, Professor of Economics at Alma College. 

While the economy is generally good at recovering, the possible length of the shutdown is dangerous even so. 

“While an old adage, “time is money” is even more true today. The longer-term effects might be even more pronounced,” said Cunningham. 

Both parties are standing firm in their votes, making this standstill without a foreseeable end. 

“Per survey results, there is broad bipartisan support for the ACA and its subsidies, so it’s possible that political pressure from constituents might bring lawmakers to some kind of consensus,” said Cunningham 

“It is unlikely that either the administration or Democrats will compromise before the ACA renewal notices are sent out at the end of the month. It appears that is the likeliest pressure point to resolve the impasse, which would mean the current shutdown may well surpass the previous record of 35 days,” said Hulme.