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2025 Government Shutdown Resources
Senate Agreement Begins Process to End Government Shutdown
Nov. 10, 2025
Senate negotiators agreed Sunday night by a 60-40 vote to move forward with ending the now 41-day long government shutdown. Eight Senators joined with 52 Republicans to end debate on a three-bill spending package and short-term Continuing Resolution (aka the CR/Minibus).
The Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and FDA, and Legislative Branch Appropriations Bills are the center of the deal, and those agencies would be funded thru FY26. The rest of the government would be funded thru January 30, 2026, under a CR that will be brought to the Senate floor later this week.
The timing of the final vote in the Senate could come as early as today or it could take a few days to jump through procedural hurdles. It will take a unanimous consent agreement of all 100 Senators to expedite consideration, which means one Senator can drag the process out if they so choose. Once the Senate passes the CR/Minibus, Senators will adjourn for the week.
The House will also need to vote on it as well since the original bill passed in September funded the government thru Nov. 21. Leadership announced Sunday night that it will reconvene this week to consider the CR/Appropriations Bills and Members will be given 36 hours' notice to return to Washington.
The deal would also reverse the layoffs of thousands of federal employees since Oct 1 and prevent layoffs through January 30. Senate Democrats pushed for a ban on future firings, but the White House rejected that proposal.
Most interesting is that it seems the deal does not include extension of ACA subsidies -- the Democrats main reason for forcing the shutdown. There is, however, a guarantee of a vote in Senate on ACA on a bill of Democrats' choosing, set to occur by the end of the second week in December. The decision by the eight moderate senators to cut the deal without concrete action on the subsidies beyond the promised vote prompted blowback from other Democrats, particularly in the House of Representatives where a vote on ACA subsidies is not guaranteed under the deal.
The CR/Minibus includes:
- Continuing Appropriations Act, which extends the CR through January 30, 2026, along with retroactive federal backpay and prohibitions on reductions in force for Federal employees.
- Three FY2026 Appropriations bills:
The Government Affairs team will continue to report on this situation as it continues to develop.
Government Shutdown
Oct. 1, 2025
Just after midnight on October 1, 2025, the Federal government effectively shut down when neither a full-year spending bill nor a Continuing Resolution (CR) was passed for Government departments or agencies whose budgets expired September 30, 2025. During
a government shutdown federal departments and programs cannot spend money unless Congress passes a law providing them the appropriated funds to do so. With the numerous furloughed employees, the agencies are unable to make decisions on deliverables,
contract changes, goods and services, permitting reviews and more.
Topline Impacts for Contractors
- For federal contractors, projects under fully funded fixed-price contracts are likely to continue unless an explicit stop-work order is issued. However, note that access to a job site may be restricted for certain projects on federal property should
the shutdown drag on and more federal personnel are furloughed or take leave. This particularly includes construction projects at military facilities or federal office buildings.
- Projects on incrementally funded projects may be halted if there is no federal funding to continue to pay the contract.
- Contractors should anticipate delays in processing invoices and receiving payment.
- During a shutdown, agencies cannot solicit or award new contracts, exercise contract options, or issue modifications unless those contracts are tied to an exempted agency, like for certain VA or Treasury programs not tied to the shutdown.
- For subcontractors, the prime contractor will be notified of any stop-work order. Prime contractors are required to notify all subcontractors of stop-work orders.
General Impacts
- US Postal Service – USPS will continue to operate as usual. However, delays may be expected should a shutdown drag on.
- IRS Taxpayer Services - IRS services should continue and contractors that have issues with taxes or need documentation should be able to receive them. Delays are possible.
- Medicare customer service - All Medicare operations continue. Seniors will see much longer wait times when trying to speak with a CMS representative.
- Social Security – Social Security keeps going out, but all other services, including replacement Social Security and Medicare cards, stop.
- Public Lands – All federal facilities and federal lands are closed to the public, including National Parks, museums, and military facilities. Access to these facilities will likely be restricted to official business and essential
or exempted work.
- Small Business Loans - No new SBA-backed loans and ongoing applications are paused.
Department of Veterans Affairs
- Department Contingency Plan
- Medical co-pays, VA mortgage payments, GI Bill overpayment issues or other indebtedness are still due during shutdowns, even if the Veteran is furloughed/excepted and not receiving pay.
- Minimal impact to Veterans’ everyday needs as most of the VA is excepted employees and the Veterans Health Administration is advance funded.
- All entrepreneurship and Career Building programs stop.
- VA Home loans are still available during a government shutdown.
- GI Bill benefits will still be available. However, the Education Call center will shut down, impacting those needing additional assistance with education benefits.
- VA Benefits are not impacted by a shutdown. However, new claims or those appealing claims may see an increased wait time due to other entities of the Dept that are impacted by furloughs.
Department of Homeland Security
- The overwhelming majority of DHS employees and services are either accepted or exempted.
- USCIS is a fee-funded agency, so it will be minimally impacted by shutdown. There may be some processing delays related to pulling records, communications with other agencies, etc.
- National Parks facilities will be closed, gates locked, visitor centers closed, and park rangers furloughed.
- Most Bureau of Reclamation’s permitting and project management is shut down.
- EPA inspections of pollution, power plants, and water treatment could be delayed as inspectors are furloughed.
- The minimum logistics activity personnel required to operate and maintain facilities during the shutdown will continue.
- Operation and Maintenance of hydropower plants, commercial locks, and flood control projects will continue.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
- HUD local field offices will close.
- Local public housing agencies (PHAs) are not federal government entities and thus will not shut down. However, PHAs receive significant federal funding and their hours and capacities may be impacted by the federal shutdown.
Department of Agriculture
- No new Rural Development loans or grants.
- Rural broadband (ReConnect) continues until appropriated funds are expended.
- “Everything not related to preservation of life and property” will be shut down. Meaning, most operations continue as usual but with smaller staff at DOE.
- For energy projects, a smaller staff will continue to provide support on functions related to life and property.
- All worker-protection agency investigations will cease unless they involve responding to or preventing fatalities, catastrophes, or imminent danger.
- The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service will cease all operations, however, contracted services such as Transition Assistance Program (TAP) training will continue.
