The US government shut down on Wednesday after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to resolve a budget impasse. The deadlock centered on Democratic demands for health care funding, leading to immediate blame from both parties.
This shutdown affects hundreds of thousands of government workers and millions of Americans relying on federal services. It halts operations at multiple federal departments and agencies, raising concerns about its duration and consequences. Trump warned of potential job cuts targeting Democrats, stating, “A lot of good can come down from shutdowns.”
Government operations began to cease at 12:01 AM (0401 GMT) Wednesday. A last-minute Senate attempt to pass a short-term funding resolution failed, despite prior approval from the House of Representatives. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer criticized Republicans, stating, “The Republican shutdown has just begun because Republicans wouldn’t protect America’s health care.”
Who Will Be Affected?
While essential services like the Postal Service and military operations remain unaffected, up to 750,000 federal workers could be sent home daily without pay. This marks the first shutdown since the longest in US history, which lasted 35 days nearly seven years ago.
Negotiations for a compromise have been tense. Democrats, now in the minority, seek to leverage their position amid Trump’s second presidency, which has seen significant cuts to government agencies.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson questioned how long the shutdown would last, citing the negative impact on families and veterans. In contrast, former Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized that Republicans control the White House and Congress, declaring, “This is their shutdown.”
The Senate requires 60 votes for funding bills, making it challenging for Republicans to pass their proposals. They suggested extending current funding until late November while negotiating a longer-term plan. However, Democrats demanded substantial health care funding, particularly for the Obamacare program.
As the shutdown unfolds, uncertainty looms over its duration and impact on federal operations. Since 1976, the federal government has shut down 21 times, with the longest occurring during Trump’s first term over border wall funding.
