Washington, DC [US], October 1 (ANI): At midnight, the US federal government officially shut down after Congress failed to pass a funding measure, CNN reported. This marks the first government shutdown since 2019.
The deadlock stems from a standoff between Republicans and Democrats over temporary funding. Republicans insist Democrats should agree to extend current funding levels for another seven weeks, while Democrats demand significant concessions before lending their support in the Senate.
Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer blamed US President Donald Trump and Republicans for the lapse. “After months of making life harder and more expensive, Donald Trump and Republicans have now shut down the federal government because they do not want to protect the healthcare of the American people,” the leaders said in a joint statement.
Senators departed the Capitol in uncertainty, with no clear timeline for how long the shutdown may last. The Senate is expected to vote again tomorrow morning on the same GOP funding plan, which Republican leaders have vowed to keep reintroducing until Democrats agree to reopen the government.
The shutdown will affect hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Many will be furloughed, while essential employees must continue reporting to work without pay until the impasse is resolved. Certain government functions not tied to annual appropriations will continue operating normally.
Each shutdown has unique impacts, but critical services that protect lives and property typically remain open. In past shutdowns, immigration hearings were canceled and federal loans for homebuyers and small businesses were delayed, CNN reported. (ANI)
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