The Take Why did the US government shut down?
Oct 3, 2025
Heidi Zhou-Castro, an Al Jazeera English correspondent in Washington, D.C., delves into the implications of the federal government shutdown. She breaks down who gets furloughed and the critical roles still in operation. Heidi shares touching stories from federal workers facing economic strain and discusses the political maneuvers surrounding health-care subsidies. She raises concerns over potential job cuts by Trump and the risks of essential staff walking off the job. Can Congress find a better solution than these recurring impasses? Tune in for insights!
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Workers' Daily Fears
- Heidi Zhou-Castro describes living among federal workers who dread missing paychecks and worry about mortgages.
- She notes over two million federal workers and contractors are affected nationwide.
How A Shutdown Legally Happens
- A shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass spending after the fiscal year ends on September 30th.
- Essential services continue but many federal employees are furloughed without pay until funding is approved.
Who Is Furloughed Versus Essential
- About 750,000 federal employees are furloughed, with education and labor departments hit hard.
- Essential workers like TSA and military still work but often without pay during the shutdown.