Government Shutdown 2025? Here’s What We Know So Far

Congress is again scrambling to pass a spending bill to temporarily fund the government, known as a continuing resolution, to avert another government shutdown that could begin at the end of the week.

Newsweek reached out to House Speaker Mike Johnson for comment via email.

Why It Matters

A shutdown could impact millions of Americans. Federal workers would be furloughed and not receive pay, while nonessential government functions would be put on pause.

If passed, the CR would fund the government through September 30 without requiring new appropriations legislation. Congress must pass it by March 14 to avoid a shutdown, which would be the first of President Donald Trump’s term.

The House of Representatives found itself in a similar position in December when it passed the CR, extending funding through Friday. Republicans have a majority in the House but struggled to pass an initial CR amid criticism from Elon Musk. A scaled-down version was eventually submitted early on December 21, hours after the funding deadline expired.

What To Know

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, unveiled a stopgap funding bill over the weekend to prevent a shutdown. The bill would maintain current spending levels until the September expiration while reducing Justice Department state and local law enforcement assistance.

The bill is unlikely to garner significant Democratic support, and Republicans hold only a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, where the balance is split 281-214.

House Speaker Mike Johnson potential government shutdown — House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has introduced a bill aimed at averting a government shutdown, speaks to reporters on March 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Will There Be a March 2025 Government Shutdown?

Whether the government shuts down this week depends on whether Johnson’s CR can pass both the House—where Republicans hold a narrow majority—and the Senate, where Democrats could use the 60-vote filibuster to block it.

This means it must win a broad coalition of support, including conservative hardliners in the House and moderate Democratic senators who are hesitant to shut down the government.

It’s not clear if the bill has enough support to pass either chamber, but some key votes have indicated they may support it.

Representative Victoria Spartz, an Indiana Republican who has considered withholding her vote on CRs in the past, indicated to Reuters she may vote for the CR, saying she doesn’t believe Congress has “time to do anything else.”

Some Senate Democrats, who have generally been hesitant to support shutdowns, have also indicated they may support the CR, though it’s unclear at this point how many will ultimately vote in its favor.

“I’m never going to be a part of any vote that shuts the government down,” Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, told Politico.

Which Jobs Will Pause in Government Shutdown?

During a government shutdown, all government workers deemed nonessential are furloughed until a deal is reached to reopen the government. Essential workers are expected to keep working without pay until the shutdown ends, after which they will receive back pay.

Federal law enforcement, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, and Border Patrol agents are among those considered essential. The military would also continue working. The U.S. Postal Service doesn’t rely on Congress for funding.

Congress would continue working with pay during any potential shutdown.

What Has Trump Said About the Government Shutdown Prospect?

Trump has encouraged Republicans to vote in favor of Johnson’s bill to avert a shutdown.

“The House and Senate have put together, under the circumstances, a very good funding Bill (‘CR’)! All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES next week… We have to remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right. VERY IMPORTANT. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Trump told reporters on Sunday that a shutdown “could happen” but “probably won’t,” as he believes the CR will ultimately be passed.

What People Are Saying

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, in a statement: “The partisan House Republican funding bill recklessly cuts healthcare, nutritional assistance and $23 billion in veterans benefits. Equally troublesome, the legislation does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, while exposing the American people to further pain throughout this fiscal year. We are voting No.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson told Meet the Press earlier this month: “We’re looking to pass a clean CR to freeze funding at current levels [and] to make sure that the government can stay open while we begin to incorporate all these savings that we’re finding through the DOGE effort, and these other sources of revenue that President Trump’s policies are bringing the table.”