The US government on Wednesday partially shut down for the first time in six years after the Senate failed to pass a stopgap funding bill, plunging federal operations into chaos. President Donald Trump further escalated tensions by warning of additional layoffs of federal employees.
The Senate vote ended 55-45, leaving little hope of keeping government operations running past midnight. The shutdown officially began at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, with the White House posting a picture of a countdown timer on social media captioned “Democrat Shutdown.”
This marks the 15th federal shutdown since 1981. Its immediate impacts include:
Delay of the September employment report
Disruptions in air travel
Suspension of scientific research
Furlough of approximately 750,000 federal workers
Daily government losses estimated at $400 million
Efforts for a last-minute compromise remain uncertain, with Senate Republican leader John Thune suggesting lawmakers may attempt negotiations later in the week. However, the deadlock between Republicans and Democrats shows little sign of resolution.
The shutdown followed the Senate’s rejection of a short-term funding bill meant to maintain operations until November 21. Democrats opposed the measure because it did not extend health benefits due to expire at year-end, while Republicans argued the issue should be addressed separately.
The funding dispute centers on $1.7 trillion allocated for government agencies, roughly a quarter of the $7 trillion federal budget, with the remainder covering healthcare, retirement programs, and interest on the $37.5 trillion national debt.
