- The US government has shut down after the Senate failed to pass a funding bill.
- Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are expected to be furloughed.
- Senate Democrats rejected the House stopgap bill, while Republicans refused to talk.
- Democrats demand the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits in negotiations.
- Both chambers remain at a standstill as Senate leaders exchange blame.
The United States government officially shut down at 12:01 am on Wednesday, marking the first closure in nearly seven years. The move will force federal agencies to halt normal operations and temporarily lay off hundreds of thousands of workers across the country.
The House had passed a short-term funding bill to keep the government running for seven weeks. However, Senate Democrats rejected the proposal, insisting that key issues must be addressed first.
Republicans, on the other hand, refused to negotiate on an alternative plan, leaving both chambers at a standstill.
Senators are expected to reconvene later on Wednesday, but hopes for a quick solution remain uncertain.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he was still hopeful that Democrats would reconsider:
“They’ve got to sit down and negotiate with Democrats to come to a bill that both parties can support,”
However, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stood firm, stressing that Republicans must first agree to meaningful talks.
Democrats have made the extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits their main condition in the negotiations. They argue that the credits are essential for protecting millions of Americans.
Republicans, meanwhile, have refused to link the funding bill with healthcare demands, creating the deadlock.
Federal agencies have already begun implementing shutdown contingency plans. Trump’s budget office sent a letter minutes after the failed vote, instructing employees to report on Wednesday to carry out “orderly shutdown activities.”
