Did the government shut down last night? Here’s what to know

Parts of the federal government have effectively stopped operating after congressional leaders failed to strike a deal before the Oct. 1 shutdown deadline.

Despite negotiation efforts, lawmakers could not come to an agreement on funding legislation before midnight on Oct. 1.

As a result, a partial government shutdown began, as of midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 1, the first day of the U.S. government's 2026 fiscal year. The shutdown will continue until appropriations are passed in Congress.

In turn, a wide range of federal services will be impacted and thousands of government workers are set to be furloughed. Certain agencies, like the U.S. Postal Service, air traffic control and Social Security, are considered essential and will run as usual.

Here's what to know.

Did the government shut down last night?

Yes, the government has partially shut down.

Congress failed to agree on funding appropriations for the new fiscal year before the Sept. 30 at 11:59 p.m. deadline. As a result, some government agencies effectively closed beginning Oct. 1 at midnight.

What's open, closed in a government shutdown?

Certain federal agencies and workers are deemed essential and therefore are not impacted by a government shutdown.

Essential services include the U.S. Postal Service, Social Security, Medicare and air traffic control.

The biggest impacts of the shutdown will be felt by government employees who work under nonessential services, such as national parks.

These workers are typically furloughed during the shutdown and receive backpay once they can return to work. However, the Office of Management and Budget asked federal agencies on Sept. 24 to draft plans for permanent layoffs.

How long will government shutdown last?

Since 1977, there have been 21 federal government shutdowns that lasted a total of 121 days. That's an average of almost eight days per shutdown.

However, among them, the shortest lasted for just a few hours and the longest 35 days. Both were under President Donald Trump's first administration: the hours long shutdown took place in February 2018 and the longest shutdown was from December 2018 to January 2019.

What is a government shutdown?

Each fiscal year, Congress allocates funding for federal agencies to operate.

However, if lawmakers do not agree on appropriations or a temporary spending bill, some federal agencies must effectively shut down or stop normal spending, according to the Office of Personnel Management. 

Some jobs or services are deemed essential and continue to operate in the event of a shutdown.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].