When Government Could Reopen–Key Dates to Watch

As the shutdown drags deeper into October, the calendar now becomes a significant factor in how and when the government might reopen. 

The U.S. Capitol building during the government shutdown on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 15, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

With the federal government shutdown now in its third week and officially one of the longest in modern U.S. history, Congress remains at an impasse with no negotiations underway to end it. In the absence of talks, the clock is now ticking towards a string of critical dates and pressure points that could test lawmakers’ resolve and potentially break the stalemate.

Since the shutdown started at midnight on Oct. 1, multiple attempts to fund and reopen the government have failed in the Senate. Earlier this week, the Senate for a tenth time rejected a Republican-backed bill that would temporarily extend government funding.