2025年9月30日，美國國會未能及時通過臨時財政撥款案，導致聯邦政府正式陷入「停擺」狀態，這是自2018年底以來，美國政府時隔近七年再度關門。這次事件的導火線源於民主、共和兩黨之間在醫療保險補貼政策上的尖銳對立，而這場政治僵局迅速蔓延成全國性的經濟與社會危機，波及範圍極廣，甚至連美國軍方都深受其害。

此次政府停擺的核心矛盾，是圍繞著是否延長《平價醫療法案》（俗稱「歐巴馬健保」）下的醫療保險補貼政策。民主黨方面堅持繼續提供「增強型稅收抵免」，並撤回《美麗大法案》（Build Beautiful Act）中對醫療補助的削減條款，認為這是維護低收入與中產家庭健康權益的必要措施。而共和黨則批評民主黨「強行綁架預算」，將意識形態議題與財政法案掛鉤，應對政府停擺負責。雙方僵持不下，導致國會無法在截止期限前批准臨時撥款法案。

截至10月6日，眾議院雖然通過了臨時撥款方案，但在參議院屢次投票中仍未能獲得60票的通過門檻。市場分析認為，此次政府停擺可能持續超過15天，機率高達67%。若要使政府重新開門，兩黨勢必在短期臨時撥款與《平價醫療法案》保費補貼的臨時延長之間達成妥協，否則僵局仍將持續。

政府「關門」對聯邦運作的影響立竿見影。依照美國行政規定，停擺期間所有「非必要政府業務」必須停止，僅涉及國防、安全、生命財產保障等「必要職能」可繼續執行。這意味著約130萬現役美軍暫時領不到薪水，部分軍人家庭不得不依靠救濟金度日，甚至出現退伍軍人團體為軍屬募捐的情況。

同時，聯邦統計數據的發布也全面中斷。美國人口普查局無法繼續公布零售銷售與房地產等重要經濟指標；勞工統計局的非農就業報告、失業率與消費者物價指數（CPI）等資料亦被迫暫停。這使得金融市場失去判斷經濟走向的重要依據，投資者信心受到明顯打擊。

而在輿論場上，白宮官方帳號迅速發聲，將停擺的責任歸咎於共和黨，指責對方以政治勒索手段阻撓醫保改革與財政運作。共和黨則反擊稱，真正造成政府關門的元凶是民主黨對開支控制的失職與過度社會福利導向。雙方互相指責，使美國政治再度陷入極化與混亂的泥淖。

綜合來看，這場政府停擺不僅揭示出美國政治分裂的深層結構，也對全球經濟市場產生不確定性影響。從軍人家庭領不到工資，到全國性統計數據中斷，再到金融市場的震盪，這一連串後果讓外界再次質疑，美國作為世界最大經濟體，其政治體制是否仍具備足夠的穩定性與治理能力。

On September 30, 2025, the U.S. federal government officially entered a shutdown after Congress failed to pass a temporary funding bill on time — marking the country’s first government closure in nearly seven years, since late 2018. The crisis stemmed from a fierce standoff between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare subsidies, which quickly spiraled into a nationwide political and economic disruption that even affected the U.S. military.

At the heart of the dispute lies the question of whether to extend the enhanced healthcare tax credits under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. Democrats insist on continuing these subsidies and removing the planned cuts to Medicaid outlined in the Build Beautiful Act, arguing that doing so protects the health and financial security of low- and middle-income families. Republicans, on the other hand, accuse Democrats of “political hostage-taking,” claiming they are tying ideological issues to the budget bill and should therefore bear responsibility for the shutdown. The deadlock prevented Congress from passing the stopgap funding bill before the deadline.

As of October 6, the House of Representatives had passed a temporary funding measure, but repeated Senate votes failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed for approval. Market analysts now estimate that the government shutdown could last more than 15 days, with a 67% probability. To reopen the government, both parties will need to compromise — most likely through a short-term funding extension paired with a temporary continuation of ACA premium subsidies.

The impact of the shutdown has been immediate and far-reaching. Under federal regulations, all “non-essential” government operations must halt, while only those involving defense, security, and life safety can continue. This means 1.3 million active-duty U.S. military personnel are temporarily unpaid, forcing many service members and their families to rely on financial aid and community donations. Veterans’ organizations have even launched relief efforts to support affected families.

The shutdown has also paralyzed federal data reporting. The U.S. Census Bureau has suspended the release of key economic indicators such as retail sales and housing data, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics has halted major reports including nonfarm payrolls, unemployment rates, and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). As a result, financial markets have lost critical tools for assessing the economy, and investor confidence has suffered.

Politically, the blame game has intensified. The White House’s official social media accounts quickly placed responsibility on Republicans, accusing them of using fiscal negotiations as a form of political blackmail to obstruct healthcare reform. Republicans fired back, arguing that Democrats’ excessive welfare spending and poor fiscal discipline were the real causes of the crisis. The standoff has once again highlighted the deep polarization and dysfunction at the heart of U.S. politics.

Overall, this shutdown not only exposes the fragility of America’s political system but also casts a shadow over global markets. From unpaid soldiers and halted economic data to shaken investor confidence, the episode underscores a troubling question: can the world’s largest economy still govern itself effectively amid such deep partisan divides?