US government shutdown hits 22 days, second-longest in history

The US federal government has been shut down for 22 days as of Wednesday, October 22, 2025, marking the second-longest shutdown due to a political deadlock over funding and health-care subsidies.

This shutdown has already surpassed the 1995–1996 closure under President Bill Clinton. Only the 35-day shutdown in 2018–2019, during President Donald Trump’s first term, lasted longer.

On October 21, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries suggested meeting with President Trump to discuss government policy. Republicans, who control both the House and Senate, insist on a clean continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government first, and then negotiate other issues.

Speaking at the White House Rose Garden on October 22, 2025, President Trump refused to negotiate, saying his administration would not be “extorted by Democrats’ politics.” He added: “Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats need to vote for the clean, bipartisan CR and REOPEN our government!”

The current shutdown began when Congress failed to pass appropriations for the fiscal year starting October 1. Each year, by this date, Congress is expected to pass new spending bills, which the president must sign into law. If lawmakers can’t agree in time, they can pass a short-term fix called a “continuing resolution” to keep last year’s funding in place for a while. If neither the new bills nor a short-term fix becomes law, funding lapses at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, and parts of the government shut down.

As a result of the shutdown, around 1 million federal workers are either furloughed or working without pay. Some services have been paused, while “essential” functions, such as air traffic control and national security, continue.

Most SEC activity is also paused, slowing financial regulation. Reviews of ETF applications, including crypto funds like spot XRP, are on hold until the agency reopens. Programs that do not rely on annual spending bills, such as Social Security and Medicare, remain operational.

Earlier, Trump adviser Kevin Hassett said in a CNBC interview he expects the shutdown to end this week. However, recent announcements suggest talks remain stalled. Polymarket users are betting the U.S. government shutdown will last more than 30 days with 83% odds.

US government shutdown becomes second-longest in history