Watch 2025 government shutdown Senate vote live. What would US federal government shutdown mean?
- The U.S. Senate will vote on a funding bill to avert a government shutdown.
- If the bill is not passed by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 14, 2025, a government shutdown will go into effect.
- The last government shutdown occurred from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019.
The U.S. Senate will vote Friday to decide if a government shutdown will go into effect, while Donald Trump and the U.S. House of Representatives wait in the wings.
Here's what we know about the U.S. Senate vote and a potential government shutdown:
What is 2025 government shutdown deadline in March?
The 2025 government shutdown deadline is 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 14, 2025. A shutdown would go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday if a funding bill is not passed and signed by Trump by the end of the day.
When is Senate, Chuck Schumer voting on budget? When is 2025 government shutdown vote?
The U.S. Senate stand adjourned until 10 a.m. ET Friday, March 14, 2025. Discussions around a vote will resume when the Senate reconvenes.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) confirmed Thursday he would vote for the Republican government funding by the end of today.
"While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse. I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down," Schumer said during a speech on the Senate floor.
Watch live coverage of U.S. Senate 2025 government shutdown vote. Will federal government shutdown happen today?
What actually happens in a government shutdown?
Here's what would happen if a 2025 government shutdown were to occur:
- reduction of federal services
- the president's salary remains intact
- lawmakers' salary remains intact
- most staff for lawmakers are furloughed
- workers deemed "essential" continue to work but might not be paid until the budget is resolved
- thousands of "non-essential" federal workers go on furlough as DOGE continues mass layoffs with the most recent deadline for plan submissions passing Thursday − including layoffs for the U.S. Department of Education, NASA and the Department of Veteran Affairs
- all active-duty U.S. military personnel continue to work
- furloughs for nearly half of the Pentagon’s civilian employees
- airport security screeners, air traffic controllers, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, DEA, FBI, immigration agents, prison staff and Secret Service continue to work
- disability benefits proceed without interruptions
- Medicare and Medicaid benefits continue (some delays possible)
- retirement benefits proceed without interruptions
- National parks, monuments and other sites close to the public
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and like programs continue (some delays possible)
- U.S. Postal Service continues without interruptions (not funded by Congress)
- veteran benefits and medical care continue
When was the last government shutdown?
The last government shutdown began Dec. 22, 2018, and ended on Jan. 25, 2019. This shutdown marked the third government shutdown during Trump's first term as president, according to USA Today.
What was the longest government shutdown?
The longest government shutdown was also the most recent shutdown lasting 35 days in 2018-19 for the third time during Trump's first term as president, according to USA Today. Nearly 800,000 government employees were left without pay for more than a month.
Do social security checks go out if the government shuts down?
Yes, disability and retirement benefits proceed without interruptions.
Who does not get paid during government shutdown?
Employees deemed "non-essential" do not get paid during a government shutdown and "essential" employees who may be called upon to continue to work may not get paid until the shutdown is resolved.
How would 2025 government shutdown affect Indiana?
Indiana has 23,785 federal civilian employees with an average salary of $88,750, according U.S. Census and U.S. Office of Personnel Management data. These workers would be subjected to furloughs.
USA Today reporters Riley Beggin and Fernando Cervantes Jr. contributed to this story. Chris Sims is a digital content producer for Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.