Is the federal government still shut down? Here’s the latest.

The federal government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday, Oct. 1, after Congress negated to reach a deal to on federal funding allocations for the government.

The move, sparked by expiring health benefits, ignited what could be a long bitter standoff, and ultimately furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal workers, although some workers will continue to receive pay.

On Thursday, Oct. 2, the shutdown continued.

The shutdown marked the 15th of its kind since 1981, when government leaders "suspended scientific research, financial oversight, environmental cleanup efforts and a wide range of other activities," Reuters reported.

During the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown in 2018 and 2019, nearly 800,000 federal employees went without pay for 35 days, USA TODAY previously reported.

Here’s what to know as the shutdown enters day two.

Is the government still shut down?

Yes. As of Thursday, Oct. 2, the federal government is still shut down.

There’s no immediate end in sight as congressional Democrats demand health care policy changes that Trump and Republicans have refused to entertain.

What happens during a government shutdown?

During a government shutdown, all federal agencies and services deemed non-essential must stop working, affecting thousands of federal employees and, in turn, millions of Americans.

Essential services, like military and law enforcement, remain working.

How to follow updates on the government shutdown

USA TODAY is following the shutdown in daily live blogs. Find stories about the shutdown's impact and everything you need to know below.

How does a government shutdown end?

A government shutdown starts when Congress cannot agree on how to allocate funding for federal agencies to operate before a pre-established deadline (in this case, Sept. 30, 2025).

Meaning, the shutdown will end and the government will fully reopen once Congress passes funding appropriations. President Donald Trump will then have to sign the appropriations bill into law.

Lawmakers could also pass a temporary spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (or CR, for short), to buy more time for negotiations, according to the Office of Personnel Management. 

Contributing: Saman Shafiq, Melina Kahn

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.