Reflecting on the government shutdown November 20, 2025

The government is now back in working order after our nation’s longest shutdown, 44 days. Over the course of this shutdown hundreds of thousands of workers were furloughed while many others worked without pay. Layoffs also occurred at some agencies but this illegal action was later overturned in court and employees have been reinstated. This shutdown didn’t happen in a vacuum. The consolidation of power exhibited by the Trump Administration since January can and should be viewed as a sort of “rolling shutdown.” Though we don’t have exact numbers, we know thousands of workers at critical agencies like EPA, HHS, and others have been fired or forced out as deregulation becomes the name of the game. The American people deserve leaders who are working in their best interest, whether that be lowering utility costs, providing benefits like SNAP and WIC in a timely manner, or ensuring a healthy environment for all.