DAY 15: With no end in sight, the shutdown starts to bite
- Agora
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
AGORA SHUTDOWN UPDATE
October 15, 2025
Half a month into the partial federal government shutdown, neither side appears to be budging from their positions. With the GOP bracing for a long shutdown, they are trying new tactics to pressure Democrats to cave, including bringing up the full-year spending bills whose passage would reopen parts of the government.
Meanwhile, the White House is full-steam ahead on layoffs, targeting what President Trump calls “Democrat agencies,” and cutting funds for projects in blue states – but even programs Republicans back are getting caught in the crossfire.
At least one endeavor broadly backed by both parties – flying home for Thanksgiving – could soon be endangered by the shutdown as flight cancellations proliferate. Maybe the fury of voters having to give thanks over Zoom will push lawmakers and the White House to find an off-ramp.
Below is a roundup of the latest shutdown news.
CONGRESS
Republicans and the Trump administration are bracing for a lengthy government shutdown, taking steps to alleviate any political pain that might boomerang on them while seeking to make life difficult for Democrats.
Senate GOP leaders are looking to pressure Democrats to make progress on full-year spending bills that would fund the Pentagon and a handful of other federal agencies amid the government shutdown.
Americans are more likely to blame Republicans than Democrats for the ongoing government shutdown, but a new YouGov/The Economist poll shows that gap is beginning to narrow.
WHITE HOUSE
Two weeks into the government shutdown, the Trump administration has frozen or canceled nearly $28 billion that had been reserved for more than 200 projects primarily located in Democratic-led cities, congressional districts and states, according to an analysis by The New York Times.
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Federal workers are starting to feel the pinch of the partial government shutdown as the Trump administration implements workforce reductions across the EPA and Energy Department and essential aviation workers go without pay.
A pair of decades-old promises from Congress — ensuring disabled students receive a free and appropriate education and protecting all pupils from discrimination in schools — have been thrown into doubt after a round of sweeping layoffs at the Education Department.
Several divisions in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency were affected in termination orders issued to the federal workforce on Friday evening, multiple people familiar told Nextgov/FCW.
The Thanksgiving travel season could be put at risk by an extended government shutdown, Republican leaders warned Tuesday on Capitol Hill, ratcheting up warnings about flight cancellations and airport chaos amid the ongoing standoff with congressional Democrats.
What does a shutdown mean for government contractors, employees, grantees and the general public? Click here for more information.
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