US government shutdown 2025: Federal employees face furloughs and essential services risk disruption after Congress failed to pass funding legislation triggering a government shutdown at midnight. Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Held a joint press conference Tuesday morning near the National Mall, pinning blame squarely on Democrats for rejecting a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR).
Johnson described the scene overlooking the iconic Mall, usually bustling with 7,000 daily visitors, school groups, and families. Today, barriers block access, with signs reading “closed until further notice.” He highlighted impacts: hundreds of thousands of federal workers receive furlough notices, nearly half the civilian workforce sent home without pay. Troops and border agents report for duty unpaid. Food assistance, veterans’ benefits, and support for women and children halt immediately.
“Every bit of this was entirely avoidable,” Johnson stated. Republicans passed a “clean” 24-page CR in the House nearly two weeks ago, securing one Democratic vote for bipartisanship. The measure would extend funding for seven weeks, allowing appropriators to align 12 separate bills through a rare conference committee. Senate Democrats blocked it last night, with 44 voting against.
Johnson criticized Democrats for demanding over $1.5 trillion in new spending atop current levels. Framing it as choosing “taxpayer-funded benefits for immigrants without papers over keeping government open for American citizens.” He noted Democrats supported similar clean CRs 13 times during the Biden administration, even as the minority party. “The only difference today is the man in the Oval Office,” Johnson said, urging Democrats to pass the bill sitting on the Senate floor.
Trump trying to mitigate impact of shutdown
“As we speak here this morning,” Johnson continues, “there are hundreds of thousands of federal workers who are getting their furlough notices”.
He says that half of the US civilian workforce is being sent home. As troops and border patrol agents will “have to go to work, but they’ll be working without pay”.
“Food assistance, veterans benefits and vital support for women and children are all coming to a halt”.
Johnson says President Trump is trying to mitigate the impact, but he adds that “the longer this goes on, the more pain will be inflicted”.
President Trump works to minimize damage, but Johnson warned prolonged shutdown inflicts inevitable pain on hardworking Americans.
Read more: Trump Shutdown Threat Escalates: Firings, Medicaid Cuts Spark Bipartisan Fury
Thune echoed the call, labeling the shutdown “totally avoidable” and a product of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer yielding to “liberal far-left activist groups.” He described the CR as straightforward—nothing more, nothing less—and ready for a Senate vote later Tuesday. “Vote with us to open government,” Thune implored, noting three Democrats crossed party lines last night, recognizing the strategy’s futility.
“This isn’t about who wins or loses,” Thune added. “It’s about American people taken hostage for political gain.” He mocked House Democrats’ celebrations of their shutdown vote as ironic, stressing unity among House Republicans. Senate Republicans, and the president to resolve the crisis swiftly.
