Why Government Shutdown 2025 Update. Under the antideficiency act (initially passed in 1884 and amended in 1950), federal agencies cannot spend or obligate any money. A government shutdown was prevented after congress passed a stopgap funding measure in september.
Washington โ the house and senate approved a stopgap measure to keep the government funded for three months on wednesday, sending the legislation to president biden to stave off a shutdown. Congress passed a stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown and prevent overseas federal employees from seeing a 22% cut in pay.