Taal Volcano Near Manila Erupts, Sends 2,500-Meter Plume

On October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government officially shut down after Congress failed to approve a spending bill by the September 30 deadline. This shutdown follows a deadlock in which Republican leaders pushed for a short-term funding extension tied to increased security funding, while Democratic senators demanded extensions for healthcare subsidies.

During a shutdown, only essential services continue to operate. Critical functions like border security, air traffic control, law enforcement, and the military remain active, but many federal workers are furloughed without pay. Agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration will face limits on inspections and oversight, while the Department of Education will scale back staff, though programs like student aid will still process as possible. Services like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid payments largely continue, though some administrative operations may slow. Meanwhile, disruptions can mount: airline operations may suffer, national parks may stay open without visitor services, and applications for visas, passports, or small business loans may face delays.

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees could be furloughed without pay, and contractors may face permanent losses since they often lack guaranteed back pay. Ordinary citizens may also feel the impact—delays in immigration services, disruptions to social programs, and slower issuance of economic data. Economically, shutdowns carry a heavy cost: past shutdowns led to billions in lost productivity, shaken markets, and reduced consumer confidence. This shutdown might be especially disruptive, as the administration has signaled it may use the pause to permanently cut programs and reorganize government scope.