The US government officially shut down early Wednesday after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to reach a deal on federal funding, triggering widespread disruptions that will affect hundreds of thousands of workers and millions of Americans who rely on public services.
The shutdown began at 12:01 am (0401 GMT) following the Senate’s rejection of a short-term funding measure already passed by the House of Representatives.
At the heart of the deadlock are Democratic demands for increased health care funding, particularly for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which the Trump administration has moved to dismantle.
Trump Blames Democrats
Trump placed the blame squarely on his opponents, threatening further cuts aimed at progressive priorities.
“So we’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And they’re Democrats, they’re going to be Democrats,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “A lot of good can come down from shutdowns — we get rid of a lot of things we didn’t want, and they’d be Democrat things.”
The president suggested the shutdown could serve as leverage to “trim government waste” and force concessions from Democrats.
Democrats Push Back
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the administration, calling it the “Republican shutdown” and vowing to keep fighting for health care protections.
“The Republican shutdown has just begun because Republicans wouldn’t protect America’s health care,” Schumer said in a late-night video message.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also weighed in, posting on X: “This is their shutdown.”
What’s Affected
According to the Congressional Budget Office, up to 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed daily without pay until the shutdown ends. Essential services — such as the military, Postal Service, Social Security, and food stamps — will continue.
But other key programs will face immediate shortfalls:
- WIC nutrition support for mothers and children
- Veterans’ health care and suicide prevention services
- FEMA disaster relief during hurricane season
- Unpaid salaries for TSA agents and active-duty soldiers
Political Standoff
Republicans, who control the White House and both chambers of Congress, had proposed a short-term extension of funding through November. Democrats rejected the measure, insisting that hundreds of billions in health care spending be restored before agreeing to any stop-gap deal.
The shutdown is the first since the record-breaking 35-day stoppage during Trump’s first term in 2018–19. Since 1976, the federal government has closed 21 times over budget disputes.
How long this one lasts remains uncertain.
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