Government Shutdowns: What Are They, and What Is This One?
By: Matthieu McCarty, Staff Writer
In the news recently, the phrase “Government Shutdown” has been appearing all over the place, and believe it or not, it is something that can still impact students right here at Cody High School.
A government shutdown is what happens when Congress fails to pass a funding bill, also known as a “continuing resolution”, by the end of the Fiscal Year (which is up to September 30th). In the case the bill does not pass within that time frame, there is no approved money for many government operations and agencies; therefore, they must either pause operations or stop them entirely. For example, during a shutdown, essential services such as national defense, Social Security, or law enforcement can continue their work. Still, many non-essential government services, including but not limited to federal offices, museums, or research programs, are put on pause until funding is restored. So do not freak out, because it is not what some may think, “the government is closed forever,” but rather a temporary pause for parts that are not able to have any funding until Congress and the President can agree on a budget.
Government shutdowns are actually quite common. According to the Congressional Research Service, there have been 4 major shutdowns since 1981, including: in 1995, there was a 5-day shutdown under former President Bill Clinton, in 1996, there was another shutdown under Bill Clinton, which lasted 21 days. These shutdowns happened because during those years, Clinton had rejected spending bills proposed by congressional Republicans, who at the time held a majority in both the House and the Senate (“Past Government Shutdowns…”). Also, from the Congressional Research Service, there has been a 16-day shutdown under former President Barack Obama due to a budget standoff with Congressional Republicans (“Past Government Shutdowns”). As well as this, there was a shutdown in 2018-19 because President Donald Trump (in his first term) and Congress could not agree on federal spending, mainly due to Trump's demand for $5.7 billion to fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. When lawmakers refused to approve said funding, parts of the federal government ran out of money and were forced to close for 34 days, causing the longest shutdown in U.S. history (“Past Government Shutdowns…”).
Now, about the shutdown we are facing. According to Reuters, the current U.S. federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, due to a budget impasse between Republicans and Democrats in Congress (Rozen & Sullivan). As reported by Brookings, the specifics of this “impasse” stemmed from policy demands, including Democrats' desire to protect health insurance and prevent Medicaid cuts, and Republicans' push for deeper budget cuts and increased border wall funding (Wessel). It is quite clear that for this issue, Congress has not been able to come to a clear agreement. During shutdowns is not a good time to be working for the federal government, either, as hundreds of thousands of federal workers are impacted: some are furloughed, meaning sent home without pay, while essential employees continue to work but with pay delayed and also not yet guaranteed (Hussein et al). This situation has also led to staffing shortages in air traffic control, causing some flights to be delayed as ATC controllers are being required to work without pay (Cerullo and Sherter).
While a government shutdown might sound as if something that only matters in big cities such as Washington or New York, it still affects students here at Cody High School. For example, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) remains open, though some financial aid and loan processing may have slowed down while parts of the Department of Education were being closed (Nauer). Another instance is National Park jobs and internships, which are a big deal for a fair number of Wyoming and CHS students. These were put on hold due to many park employees being furloughed and not having a stable job (Gonzales and Coutant). On top of that, shutdowns can push up prices on everyday products such as gas, food, and travel, as the economy truly slows down (Lawder and Shalal). With this in mind, it is important to remember decisions made in DC can find their way to CHS students.
Government shutdowns such as this one have big effects on our community, Cody, Wyoming. For instance, Yellowstone National Park has remained open, although many services were limited. Visitor centers have been closed, and trash collection has stopped, which has led to concerns about wildlife safety and the degradation of the environment. Additionally, the absence of certain rangers has resulted in “bear jams”, which pose safety risks for both visitors and the wildlife (Mohr). Also, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service offices here in Wyoming may have reduced hours or delayed permits due to staff furloughs. Additionally, while some campgrounds and visitor sites remain open, services such as trash collection, bathroom cleaning, and water services have not been properly maintained (“Department of the…”). Furthermore, federal contractors here in Wyoming have faced income loss as many are furloughed and unable to work due to the shutdown. And unlike federal employees, contractors are not truly guaranteed back pay, which leads to financial uncertainty (Hsu and Fowler).
With all of this in mind, it is important to understand that the government shutdown is still ongoing, and more effects could arise. Thus far, though, we have already seen several effects on day-to-day life, such as the furloughed federal workers, potential delay for student loans, impacts on the prices of everyday essentials, and many more. It is also important to note that government shutdowns are common and most are short-lived, but at the time of this article's publishing, the current shutdown could be on track to be the longest ever.
Works Cited
Bureau of Land Management. “Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Contingency Plan for a Potential Lapse in Appropriations September 2025 Overview.” Department of the Interior, 30 September 2025, https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-10/doi-blm-contingency-plan20250930508.pdf? Accessed 20 October 2025.
Cerullo, Megan, and Alain Sherter. “Is it safe to fly during the government shutdown? Experts weigh in.” CBS News, 16 October 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-shutdown-flight-delays-air-traffic-controllers-safety/. Accessed 16 October 2025.
Gonzales, Angela, and Linda Coutant. “What a Federal Government Shutdown Means for National Parks.” National Parks Conservation Association, 1 October 2025, https://www.npca.org/articles/3590-what-a-federal-government-shutdown-means-for-national-parks. Accessed 19 October 2025.
Hsu, Andrea, and Stephen Fowler. “Furloughed federal workers face threat of no back pay.” Wyoming Public Media, Wyoming Public Media, 8 October 2025, https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/2025-10-08/furloughed-federal-workers-face-threat-of-no-back-pay? Accessed 20 October 2025.
Hussein, Fatima, et al. “In shutdown, federal workers face financial strain and fear layoffs.” AP News, 15 October 2025, https://apnews.com/article/congress-federal-workers-shutdown-layoffs-5bef57b6c431830a9af84fbfcc59b324. Accessed 16 October 2025.
Lawder, David, and Andrea Shalal. “Shutdown could cost US economy $15 billion a week, Treasury says.” Reuters, 16 October 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-investment-boom-is-sustainable-bessent-says-2025-10-15/. Accessed 19 October 2025.
Mohr, Kylie. “No one's policing Yellowstone bear jams during the shutdown.” SFGATE, 15 October 2025, https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/shutdown-worsens-yellowstone-bear-jams-21102262.php? Accessed 20 October 2025.
Nauer, Kim. “FAFSA Available Despite Government Shutdown | FAFSA: The How-To Guide for High School Students.” Understanding FAFSA & Financial Aid, 9 October 2025, https://understandingfafsa.org/fafsa-available-despite-government-shutdown/. Accessed 19 October 2025.
“Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources | Congress.gov | Library of Congress.” Congress.gov, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R41759? Accessed 15 October 2025.
Rozen, Courtney, and Andy Sullivan. “US government shutdown: What is open, what is closed.” Reuters, 1 October 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-government-shutdown-what-is-open-what-is-closed-2025-10-01/. Accessed 16 October 2025.
Wessel, David. “Government Shutdowns: Causes and Effects.” Brookings Institution, 6 October 2025, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-is-a-government-shutdown-and-why-are-we-likely-to-have-another-one/. Accessed 16 October 2025.