As the clock struck midnight on October 1, 2025, the United States government found itself in the throes of yet another partial shutdown, a scenario that has become all too familiar for federal workers and the millions of Americans who rely on government services. The immediate cause: Congress’s failure to agree on a funding measure before the end of the fiscal year, leaving non-essential government functions at a standstill and sending thousands of federal employees home without pay.
The blame game began in earnest almost instantly. According to Fox News Digital, the Small Business Administration (SBA)—led by former Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler—was quick to point fingers, attributing the shutdown to Senate Democrats’ refusal to pass H.R. 5371, a so-called “clean” federal funding bill. Furloughed SBA staffers set up automatic out-of-office email responses that read, “I am out of office for the foreseeable future because Senate Democrats voted to block a clean federal funding bill (H.R. 5371), leading to a government shutdown that is preventing the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from serving America’s 36 million small businesses.” The message went on to claim, “Every day that Senate Democrats continue (to) oppose a clean funding bill, they are stopping an estimated 320 small businesses from accessing $170 million in SBA-guaranteed funding.”
The SBA’s website mirrored this messaging, displaying a bold red “Special Announcement” that echoed the language of the auto-responses. The message warned that the shutdown—allegedly caused by Senate Democrats—was halting services for the nation’s small businesses, a sector often described as the backbone of the American economy. The agency assured the public that employees would resume their duties as soon as the shutdown ended, but in the meantime, many services would remain unavailable.
But the SBA was not alone in its approach. The White House press office also sent out an automatic response email, stating, “Due to staff shortages resulting from the Democrat Shutdown, the typical 24/7 monitoring of this press inbox may experience delays. We ask for your patience as our staff work to field your requests in a timely manner. As you await a response, please remember this could have been avoided if the Democrats voted for the clean Continuing Resolution to keep the government open.” The message concluded with a phrase reminiscent of President Trump’s characteristic sign-offs: “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
While these automated responses made their way to the inboxes of journalists and the public, the situation inside other federal agencies grew more complicated. The Department of Education (ED), which employs around 2,500 people, saw approximately 87 percent of its staff furloughed. According to Newsweek, several ED employees alleged that their automated out-of-office emails had been changed without their consent. The new messages, which matched the language received by Newsweek and reported by NBC News and Federal News Network, stated, “Thank you for contacting the press team. On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse in appropriations, we are currently in furlough status. We will respond to emails once government functions resume.”
For some employees, the experience was unsettling. One anonymous ED staffer told Newsweek, “Thank you for contacting me. On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse in appropriations I am currently on furlough status. I will respond to emails once government functions resume.” The employee expressed concern about the lack of consent in changing their email and the potential professional repercussions of speaking out.
The issue quickly escalated from political wrangling to legal controversy. Advocacy groups, including the Democracy Defenders Fund and Public Citizen, filed complaints with federal oversight agencies. Their central allegation: that government communications—emails and website posts blaming Democrats for the shutdown—might violate the Hatch Act, a 1939 law designed to prevent federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity while on duty. The Democracy Defenders Fund’s complaint, as reported by Newsweek, also raised the possibility of breaches of the Antideficiency Act, which restricts the use of federal funds for publicity and propaganda.
Richard Painter, who served as chief ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, didn’t mince words. He told Newsweek, “Commandeering a federal employees' email with their names on it for political purposes without their permission is illegal coercion of political activity from federal employees, a federal crime.” The gravity of such an accusation cannot be overstated, as violations of the Hatch Act can result in removal from federal service, fines up to $1,000, or demotion.
The Department of Education, for its part, defended the messaging. An ED spokesperson told NBC News, “The email reminds those who reach out to Department of Education employees that we cannot respond because Senate Democrats are refusing to vote for a clean C.R. and fund the government. Where’s the lie?” This response underscores the extent to which both sides of the aisle are entrenched in their narratives, each blaming the other for the impasse.
Meanwhile, the practical effects of the shutdown are being felt across the country. The SBA, which is tasked with supporting and counseling America’s small businesses, reported that hundreds of businesses are now unable to access millions in funding. The agency estimates that each day the shutdown continues, around 320 small businesses are prevented from securing $170 million in SBA-guaranteed loans. For entrepreneurs and small business owners, these delays can mean the difference between staying afloat and shuttering their doors.
As the days drag on, there is little optimism for a swift resolution. Betting odds, as cited by Newsweek, suggest that many Americans believe the shutdown could persist for weeks. President Trump, speaking on October 2, 2025, threatened further cuts to government projects and the firing of federal workers if the stalemate continues, raising the stakes for thousands of families who depend on government paychecks.
At its core, this shutdown is more than just a budgetary squabble. It has become a test of the boundaries between governance and partisanship, with the use of official government communication channels now under scrutiny for possible legal violations. As advocacy groups push for investigations and federal employees worry about their rights and livelihoods, the nation watches and waits—hoping for a breakthrough that seems, at least for now, just out of reach.
