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Reporter’s Notebook: Government shutdown chances astronomical as Congress barrels toward deadline
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A «government shutdown» in the federal wild is a rare sight.
Oh, people talk a lot about government shutdowns. It’s kind of like spotting an elusive species while on safari in Africa. Maybe spying the Aurora Borealis during a trip to Quebec. Perhaps finding yourself in the «zone of totality» for a solar eclipse.
Many now toiling on Capitol Hill, serving in the federal government, working for the current Trump administration or as freshmen in Congress have never witnessed a government shutdown. You might not know exactly what to expect. After all, Congress and a presidential administration haven’t had a dalliance with a government shutdown since the 35-day closure in late 2018 and early 2019.
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The U.S. Capitol Building is seen from Freedom Plaza on Sept. 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Every shutdown is different. It’s a near political certainty that the sides seize up periodically, compelling a government shutdown. Such was the case with the last one. President Donald Trump demanded money for his border wall. The same with the 16-day shutdown over repealing Obamacare in 2013. Or even with a couple of partial but significant shutdowns in late 1995, stretching into 1996, over cuts to health care and environmental spending.
Here’s what we know about past shutdowns:
Federal employees not deemed essential don’t go to work. The military and those in national security remain on the job. However, pay for everyone is in abeyance until the shutdown is settled. Anything not essential stops. National parks and museums usually close. However, the Postal Service continues to operate. Passport processing usually stops. Air traffic controllers continue to work.
But they aren’t paid until there’s a resolution. The government continues to pay Social Security and other retirement or health benefits, but there’s always the possibility that federal workers who process those checks could refuse to come to work if they’re not getting paid and a shutdown drags on.
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A closed sign is displayed at the National Archives entrance in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, as a partial government shutdown stretched into its third week. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)
There’s often a tipping point in each government shutdown that triggers the sides to lay down their political swords and forge an agreement. That returns everyone to work.
In 2013, U.S. Capitol Police officers were still on the job without pay when they got involved in a high-speed chase and shooting that started at the White House and wound up near the Hart Senate Office Building. Officers were injured in the mayhem. That prompted lawmakers from both sides to sober up and re-open the government.
Growing concern about aviation safety helped end a 2019 shutdown. Air traffic controllers worked for more than a month without pay. A small group of controllers elected to stay home. That prompted a temporary shutdown at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Issues also materialized in Newark, N.J., Atlanta and Philadelphia. Fear of a major air disaster prompted lawmakers and the first Trump administration to terminate the shutdown.
Congress is different from the rest of the federal government. That’s because Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution allows it to make its own rules. The House and Senate usually meet during a shutdown. But major committee hearings are often postponed. Lawmakers continue earning their paychecks. That’s because the 27th Amendment prohibits «varying the compensation» of lawmakers without an intervening election. Some lawmakers make a point of saying they won’t accept pay during a shutdown. They may try to defer their compensation or even donate it to charity.
The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. with an American flag flying. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
Congressional staff are paid, but not until a shutdown is over.
Every House and Senate office operates like an independent entity within Congress. So lawmakers decide who must come to work and who doesn’t. Some lawmakers determine that only a top aide or two are «essential.» Others claim they represent 750,000 people in their congressional district. Therefore, all of their staffers are «essential.»
But the institution of Congress makes decisions about Capitol Hill operations.
U.S. Capitol Police stay on duty. But restaurants, cafeterias and barber shops close during a shutdown. Custodians are furloughed. That means garbage and trash around the Capitol isn’t collected. Formal tours of the Capitol are suspended. The flag office — which handles requests from constituents to fly flags atop the Capitol on behalf of school groups or veterans — is shuttered.
Who prevails in government shutdowns? It’s hard to gauge the political benefit. It’s widely believed that former President Bill Clinton won his standoff with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., in 1995-1996. Clinton rode easily to reelection in the fall of 1996. Gingrich seemed to bleed support on Capitol Hill after the shutdown. But Gingrich secured significant spending reforms that ultimately resulted in a federal surplus a few years later. And Republicans maintained control of the House and Senate in 1996.
Bill Clinton attends «An Evening With President Bill Clinton And James Patterson: ‘The First Gentleman’» at 92NY on June 11, 2025, in New York City. (Rob Kim/Getty Images)
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, engineered the 2013 shutdown over repealing Obamacare. Obamacare remains the law of the land. Cruz won reelection in 2018. Democrats didn’t flip the House in the 2014 midterms as Republicans expanded their majority. And the GOP gained control of the Senate.
The 2018-2019 shutdown started even before the House and Senate swore in freshmen elected in the 2018 midterms. So divining a political impact from that particular shutdown is challenging. A host of other factors — including the COVID-19 pandemic — were much bigger than the shutdown by the time we got to November 2020. Trump lost reelection that year. Democrats maintained control of the House in 2020, and Democrats narrowly flipped the Senate.
But every shutdown is a little different. Has its own signature. A shutdown during Trump’s second term may be unlike any other shutdown we’ve seen.
A shutdown during Trump’s second term may be unlike any other shutdown we’ve seen. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
White House Budget Director Russ Vought issued a memo this week, suggesting there may be mass firings if congressional appropriations lapse and those federal employees work on programs that don’t mesh with the Trump administration’s priorities.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who represents tens of thousands of federal workers just outside Washington, D.C., characterized this as «mafia-style blackmail.»
«Do you view the OMB memo as a threat to get you guys to back down or a bluff?» yours truly asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.
«We will not be intimidated by Russ Vought, who is completely and totally out of control,» replied Jeffries. «Our response to Russ Vought is simple: Get lost.»
On X, Jeffries called Vought «a malignant political hack.»
At this stage, the sides aren’t even trading offers. Just barbs.
That’s why political observers believe that the chances of a shutdown next week are astronomical. Either Democrats really take it on the chin — and accept the GOP bill. Or Republicans cave.
«We’re not going to change our position. That’s our position,» said Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was the lone Democrat who supported the Republican plan last week in the Senate.
Sen. John Fetterman at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate on June 2, 2025, in Boston. (Scott Eisen/Getty Images)
«If anyone believes that we’re on a rocket sled to autocracy, why would we hand a shuttered government over to President Trump or to Vought at OMB?» questioned Fetterman.
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In nature, it’s rare to spot an addax. An amur leopard. A red wolf.
Government shutdowns are rare as well. But you might spot a shutdown in the wild soon. And you may have even witnessed other government shutdowns before. But perhaps not a shutdown like this one.
politics,congress,house of representatives politics,senate
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NJ governor’s race escalates as GOP contender threatens legal action amid Dem leak claims
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New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli said Democrats are trying to distract voters from Democrat nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s involvement in the 1994 U.S. Naval Academy cheating scandal by pointing the finger at the Trump administration for a National Archives breach that unsealed her entire military record.
While Democrats railed against the Trump administration following the National Archives data breach, Republicans have raised questions about a New Jersey Globe report revealing Sherrill was barred from walking at her U.S. Naval Academy class graduation for refusing to report classmates involved in a massive cheating scandal.
«This is an illegal and dangerous weaponization of the federal government,» Sherrill said in a statement Thursday as she criticized Ciattarelli and the Trump administration for «breaking the law and exposing private records for political gain.»
But the Ciattarelli campaign told Fox News Digital that documents detailing Sherrill’s involvement in the cheating scandal were not included in the National Archives breach and that Sherrill implicated herself in the cheating scandal when she confirmed the New Jersey Globe’s report.
NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR HOPEFUL BLOCKED FROM NAVAL ACADEMY GRADUATION OVER CHEATING SCANDAL
Republican Jack Ciattarelli (right) is demanding Rep. Mikie Sherrill (left) release her military records as New Jersey’s gubernatorial race heats up. (Noah K. Murray/AP Photo)
The Ciattarelli campaign said Nicholas De Gregorio, a friend who is not directly involved in the campaign, «submitted a lawful FOIA request» about Sherrill’s military background of his own accord.
A spokesperson for the National Archives and Records Administration said the technician who responded to De Gregorio’s request about Sherrill’s military record «should NOT have released the entire record,» which included private information like her Social Security number.
The Ciattarelli campaign is refusing to destroy those documents that were inadvertently sent to De Gregorio and later shared with the campaign.
The National Archives apologized for the breach of privacy and has committed to holding their staff accountable for the blunder.
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While investigating Sherrill’s suspected involvement in the 1994 cheating scandal, Ciattarelli’s campaign also submitted its own FOIA request, which confirmed her name was not on the U.S. Naval Academy graduation program that year.
«I didn’t turn in some of my classmates, so I didn’t walk but graduated and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving for nearly ten years with the highest level of distinction and honor,» Sherrill told The Globe when confronted with the commencement program, as she defended not releasing any disciplinary records from her time at the academy.
Republican Jack Ciattarelli responds to questions during the first general election gubernatorial debate with Democratic opponent Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. (Noah K. Murray/AP Photo)
«Contrary to your client’s baseless claims, no one leaked anything to the campaign to try to smear [Sherrill],» a lawyer representing the Ciattarelli campaign said in the letter. «Had they done so, we would not be waiting for her to release the records of her involvement in the cheating scandal at the United States Naval Academy that resulted in her being barred from walking at her graduation.»
The letter sent to Sherrill’s lawyers said that any claim that Ciattarelli for Governor (CFG) was «part of a conspiracy to smear [Sherrill] with ill-gotten documents is completely false. In fact, it is defamatory and if [Sherrill] and her campaign continue to push this false narrative and allege that CFG and/or [campaign strategist Chris] Russell acted illegally, we will pursue defamation claims.»
Sherrill’s campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the letter.
Democrats, however, were quick to blame the data breach on President Donald Trump.
«The Trump administration’s breach of privacy is a slap in the face to our nation’s brave servicemembers. It’s shameful,» former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee, said Thursday.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has condemned the Trump administration for what they claimed was a «decision» to release the documents, despite a National Archives official confirming it was a low-level St. Louis branch employee responsible for «failing to follow proper administrative procedures.»
«The Trump administration’s decision to release her unredacted military personnel files to her opponent’s campaign, including her Social Security number, is yet another example of Donald Trump and the Republicans illegally weaponizing the federal government for political purposes,» DNC Chair Ken Martin said, while calling the breach a «shameful scandal that shows how little Donald Trump and Jack Ciattarelli think of the American military.»
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey responds to questions during a debate on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. (Noah K. Murray/AP Photo)
House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said he would «support a criminal investigation into the unauthorized and illegal release of Mikie Sherrill’s records.»
California Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, and House Democrats from New Jersey’s congressional delegation have also called for a formal investigation.
«This illegal doxxing of Mikie Sherrill is yet another case of the blatant corruption all too common in this s— show of an administration,» DNC vice chair and Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcom Kenyatta said on X.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., accused Trump of «illegally releasing veterans’ personal records from government files for partisan reasons.»
Navy combat veteran Rep. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., agreed the administration is «corrupt and incompetent.»
«The Trump administration has ILLEGALLY released the private military records,» Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., who is widely considered to harbor presidential aspirations and has emerged as one of Trump’s staunchest critics, charged.
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Sherrill campaign communications director Sean Higgins on Thursday accused the Trump administration of «targeting political opponents with an absolute disregard for the law, this time in concert with the Ciattarelli campaign.»
The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request to comment on the Democrat’s accusations.
new jersey,democratic party,donald trump,2025 2026 elections coverage,elections,politics
Apostadores y patrocinadores
La sombra del narco
Huir por miedo
El exfutbolista chileno Nelson Tapia. Foto: AFPEcuador,Narcotráfico
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A Sydney mother, whose 15-year-old daughter, Matilda «Tilly» Rosewarne, took her life after severe social media cyberbullying, called for global reform Wednesday at an event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York – banning children under 16 and holding tech companies financially accountable.
In a heartbreaking speech, Emma Mason detailed her daughter’s final moments, as she attempted to take her life for the twelfth and final time on Feb. 16, 2022.
«My brave little girl, determined to look pretty, put on her makeup one last time,» Mason said. «She had planned this moment out in detail. … Exhausted and broken, she just couldn’t fight anymore. She climbed on top of the backyard tree house, she slipped the noose around her neck, and stepped off into whatever experience eventually awaits all of us.»
Tilly was found by her father and 13-year-old sister, who ran into the backyard alone to find her big sister lifeless.
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Emma Mason speaks at a Wednesday event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York after her 15-year-old daughter, who was bullied on social media, committed suicide. (EUDebates.TV)
While Tilly faced relentless bullying that began in elementary school, Mason said it worsened with the spread of social media.
In November 2020, a fake nude photo of Tilly – created by a male classmate – circulated on Snapchat, reaching more than 3,000 children within just a few hours.
«The reality of this harm was instant,» Mason said. «Tilly was hysterical and spiraling. I rang the school but because this boy, and his mother, denied he’d even had his phone that day, they said they couldn’t do anything. That night, Tilly attempted suicide by cutting her arms and there was a lot of blood. … She never really recovered.»
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Authorities allegedly told the family it was difficult to «stop this from happening,» explaining they are forced to wait months for information from Snapchat.
As Tilly lost herself in depression, Mason said the bullying continued, with Tilly receiving numerous messages urging her to kill herself.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also touted the country’s social media law at the United Nations this week. (Lukas Coch/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)
The grieving mother said Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok played a direct role in her daughter’s death, noting the apps fail to protect young users and contribute to a decline in mental health, concentration, social skills, negative effects on body image, sleep and social isolation.
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«In the same way car manufacturers are responsible for protecting those who drive their vehicles, social media giants must take responsibility for protecting our children, because across the globe, children are suffering,» she said. «They’re dying as a direct result of their social media engagement, and as parents, we need help.»
Snap Inc.’s head of public policy Henry Turnbull in the Asia-Pacific region told a parliamentary inquiry in 2024 that the company works to ensure users feel safe on Snapchat, NewsWire reported at the time.
«This work is never done,» Turnbull said. «Bullying is unfortunately something that takes place in the real world and online. We do work hard to address it, and I recognize how damaging and devastating it can be to those affected. From our perspective, it’s about focusing on the actions we’re taking to address these risks.»
During the 2024 inquiry, Lucinda Longcroft, at the time Google’s director of government affairs and public policy for Australia and New Zealand, said user safety remains the company’s highest priority.
«We are certainly open to exploring any avenue to ensure the safety of Australian users,» Longcroftsaid. «We never feel we are doing enough to exercise our responsibility. We are constantly working, because the safety of children – as the most vulnerable among our users – and the safety of all our users is of utmost concern and our responsibility. We invest time, resources and expertise to ensure our systems, services and products are safe in the area of mental health and suicide.»
Though Australia recently passed a landmark minimum-age law, forcing social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 years old from having accounts or pay millions of dollars in fines, Mason asked the world to adopt a global ban to hold tech companies financially accountable.
«For parents of lost children, our lives are measured in days, weeks and months from our loss,» she said. «By birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases and other events that serve to remind us of life moving on for everyone else, except us. … Since Tilly died, I’ve sadly had the privilege of meeting so many parents like me … How many more Tillys must die?»
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen followed Mason’s speech, accusing apps of attracting and addicting children to manipulative algorithms that are geared to return profits to tech companies.
«This business is not for charity, but parents live with the risks and harms of this every single day,» von der Leyen said. «Cyberbullying, the encouragement of self-harm, online predators, addictive algorithms. It is up to us to step up for the next generation.»
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were seen together during a NATO leaders summit in Lithuania, July 12, 2023. (REUTERS/Ints Kalnins)
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In Europe, she said an age verification prototype is being tested in France, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Italy.
«It is obvious that this is plain common sense,» von der Leyen said. «We all agree that young people should reach a certain age before they smoke, drink or have access to adult content. The same can be said for social media. … We have no reason to fear the future. The technological revolution has already brought huge benefits to our lives and will bring more. But we can clarify our relationship with tech so that it serves us and not the other way around.»
tech,australia,big tech backlash,technology,facebook,instagram
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