Updated April 8, 2026
Government shutdown tracker: live updates, agency status, travel alerts, and help.
Follow federal shutdown coverage, understand which services may be affected, and quickly reach guidance for workers, travelers, families, contractors, and the public.
This homepage is organized around the main questions people search for during a shutdown: what is happening now, what is affected, what vote comes next, and where to find practical help.
Key pages
Get Help
Resources for workers, families, travelers, contractors, and anyone affected by a funding lapse.
Agency Tracker
See which agencies and services may be affected and where to look for official updates.
Travel Alerts
Check likely impacts to air travel, passports, parks, and other public-facing travel services.
Latest government shutdown news and live updates
This feed links to original reporting from outside publishers. GovernmentShutdown.net does not host or republish those articles.
Middle East crisis live: Iran war ceasefire does not cover Lebanon, Netanyahu says; Hezbollah launches rockets at Israel
Israeli prime minister’s remarks come shortly after Trump told US media he had asked Netanyahu to be more ‘low-key’ amid shaky Iran ceasefire. Follow live newsIsrael’s bombing of Lebanon after...
Confusion grows as Donald Trump reportedly claims he did not know Melania Trump was giving statement on Epstein – as it happened
This live blog is now closed.Melania Trump says she not did not have relationship with Jeffrey EpsteinSketch: Melania says her piece about Epstein – doth the lady protest too much?Trump...
Melania Trump’s surprise Epstein statement prompts bafflement
Reporters search for answers to why first lady chose to make speech – and whether president knew it was comingMelania Trump’s surprise statement denying she had any relationship with Jeffrey...
4/9: The Takeout with Major Garrett
President Trump says he asked Netanyahu to scale back Lebanon strikes; Melania Trump makes a rare statement denying relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
Artemis II astronauts prepare for splashdown
Artemis II astronauts prepare for splashdown
'I wouldn't be here': Cadets pay tribute to officer who died stopping Old Dominion shooter
The ROTC cadets getting ready to leave their class at Old Dominion University in Virginia last month had never seen the stranger who entered the room, and they thought maybe...
Mexican miner rescued after nearly two weeks underground
Mexican miner rescued after nearly two weeks underground
Artemis astronauts on who would play them in a movie
Artemis astronauts on who would play them in a movie
Trump news at a glance: Melania Trump’s weird disavowal of Epstein is getting weirder
It was unclear which specific accusations spurred the first lady to respond publicly – key US politics stories from Thursday 9 April at a glanceMelania Trump stood at a podium...
How China could influence U.S.-Iran negotiations
NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer joins "Here's the Scoop" to discuss the role China could play in negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Melania Trump's forceful Epstein denial draws bipartisan support from lawmakers
Multiple political figures took to X to praise the first lady following her remarks denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein
Vance heading negotiation team with Iran 'big mistake': Bolton
"The stakes that are there are made much higher by his presence," Bolton said of Vance.
White House staff received email warning not to place bets on prediction markets
White House aides got an email last month telling them not to place bets on prediction markets with nonpublic information, multiple administration officials told CBS News.
The riskiest moments of NASA's Artemis II mission may still be ahead
The astronauts on NASA's Artemis II moon mission are scheduled to land on Earth on Friday. But their re-entry is one of the riskiest parts of the mission, and the...
Strikes in Middle East threaten U.S.-Iran ceasefire
Strikes in Middle East threaten U.S.-Iran ceasefire
Top GOP senators to meet with Trump on DHS funding
“We're going to have to go it alone, because the Democrats aren't interested in funding national security at a time of increased concerns around the world,” Barrasso said.
Judge says Pentagon must restore press access
A federal judge blocked a restrictive new Defense Dept. press policy instituted after previously he ruled Pentagon press restrictions issued last year were unlawful.
California officials make arrests in LA hospice fraud crackdown
California's attorney general filed charges against 21 suspects, accusing the group of defrauding the state of $267 million. Arrests come after a CBS News investigation into hospice fraud.
Prosecutors reveal evidence in Iowa killing that rocked real estate world and went unsolved for years
New court filings in an Iowa murder case offer a glimpse of the prosecution’s evidence in a fatal shooting that shook the real estate industry 15 years ago
How Middle East tensions impact prices in U.S.
Kelly O'Grady breaks down why the prices Americans pay in the U.S. often depend on what is happening in the Middle East.
Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu says, "there's no ceasefire in Lebanon"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "There's no ceasefire in Lebanon," and that Israel will continue striking the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. However, Netanyahu authorized direct talks with Lebanon starting...
Melania gives statement on Jeffrey Epstein, diverging from Trump
First lady Melania Trump slams "baseless lies" tying her to Jeffrey Epstein in a rare statement at the White House. Caitlin Huey-Burns has more.
First lady Melania Trump slams "baseless lies" tying her to Jeffrey Epstein
First lady Melania Trump delivered a televised statement denying a relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
‘We can’t lose’: all eyes on potential 2028 Democratic contenders at big party gathering for this year’s midterms
Leading party figures gather at the National Action Network convention in New York to strategize for midterm electionsSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in...
Strikes continue in Middle East amid fragile ceasefire
Bomb sirens sounded in Tel Aviv on Thursday for the first time since the ceasefire began, apparently due to rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon. It comes as Israel and...
Artemis II astronauts set to return home
Tonight, the Artemis astronauts on board their Orion spacecraft are speeding towards Earth for their dangerous re-entry and splash landing. NBC News’ Tom Costello has more on their final preps...
Man was wounded by ICE officers more than half a dozen times, attorney says
Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez says officers were shooting before he moved his car, according to his lawyer, while DHS said Mendoza Hernandez "weaponized his vehicle."
4/9: CBS Evening News
The first lady denies ties to Jeffrey Epstein; VP Vance prepares for a high-stakes diplomatic meeting with Iran.
A mother mourning the son she lost in the Iran war says she told Trump: 'Go get 'em'
More than a month after her son, Maj. Cody Khork, died in the Iran war, Donna Burhans has found a routine that helps her cope.
A mother mourning the son she lost in the Iran war says she told Trump: 'Go get 'em'
More than a month after her son, Maj. Cody Khork, died in the Iran war, Donna Burhans has found a routine that helps her cope.
Columbus mayor affirms commitment to new park amid push for women's pro soccer team
The city has proposed a $25 million public-private partnership to fund stadium upgrades and a new soccer training facility at McCoy Park as part of Columbus' bid for
Senate Dem accuses Trump of being 'unfit for office,' joins growing call to impeach, oust president
Trump's threat that a 'whole civilization will die' unless the Strait of Hormuz reopened sparked the latest push
Unearthed clip exposes shocking claim by Newsom's wife about inmates at violent California prison
'This is the MAGA distraction machine,' Newsom's office said about attacks against his wife
Government shutdown history timeline
- 1976–1977: Modern shutdown-era disputes begin to appear more regularly during appropriations lapses.
- 1980: Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti issues guidance that agencies generally must suspend non-excepted operations during funding gaps.
- 1995–1996: Two major shutdowns under President Bill Clinton make shutdown politics a central national issue.
- 2013: A 16-day shutdown disrupts services and broadens public awareness of agency-by-agency impacts.
- 2018–2019: A 35-day partial shutdown becomes the longest in U.S. history.
- 2020s: Repeated funding standoffs keep shutdown risk in the national political and economic conversation.
- April 8, 2026: Shutdown risk remains a recurring policy issue, and this site organizes news, guidance, and service-impact information in one place.
Government shutdown FAQ
What is a government shutdown?
A government shutdown happens when Congress does not approve funding in time for parts of the federal government to keep operating normally.
What services are usually affected during a shutdown?
Some functions continue because they are essential or funded differently, while others slow down, close, or pause new work.
Will federal employees and contractors be paid during a government shutdown?
Employees and contractors are often affected differently. Employees may be furloughed or required to work during a lapse, while contractors can face pauses or delayed work depending on contract terms.
Where can I check travel alerts and agency status?
Use the Agency Tracker for service-level questions, Get Help for practical guidance, Travel Alerts for transportation issues, and the Next Vote Date page for legislative timing.