The US government has entered its first shutdown in almost seven years after rival Senate votes on emergency funding measures fell short late Tuesday.
Federal Workers Face Furloughs
Hundreds of thousands of federal employees deemed non-essential — including many outside critical security roles — will be furloughed or temporarily laid off.
Essential services such as social security payments, air traffic control, and postal operations will continue but are expected to suffer staff shortages.
National parks, museums, and cultural institutions could face immediate closures.
Healthcare Spending Dispute at the Core
The shutdown stems from a bitter standoff between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare spending.
Democrats voted against the Republican-backed measure, demanding the reversal of cuts to Medicaid passed earlier this summer. A Democrat-led funding plan also failed to gain the necessary votes.
While Republicans secured 55 votes, they fell short of the 60 required to avoid the shutdown. Unlike standard legislation, a simple majority is not enough to pass a funding bill.
White House Blames Democrats
Following the failed votes, the White House budget office ordered federal agencies to implement their shutdown plans. In a statement, officials accused Democrats of holding an “untenable” position and blocking funding over Medicaid.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (Republican) claimed Democrats were taking federal workers “hostage,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat) said the Republican proposal “does nothing to solve the biggest health care crisis in America.”
Trump Threatens Deep Cuts
President Donald Trump struck a defiant tone, warning that Democrats risked “irreversible” cuts to programs they support if the shutdown continues.
“We’ll be laying off a lot of people,” he said in the Oval Office, threatening sweeping reductions in staff and services.
Tens of thousands of government employees have already been dismissed this year under the controversial “DOGE” initiative, pushed by Elon Musk in partnership with Trump’s administration.
A Repeat of History
The last government shutdown occurred during Trump’s first term, lasting a record 35 days between December 2018 and January 2019, as he fought for funding for his US-Mexico border wall.
Senator Thune expressed hope the current shutdown would be short-lived, saying: “We can reopen tomorrow — all it takes is a handful of Democrats to join Republicans to pass the clean, nonpartisan funding bill in front of us.”
Since 1981, the US has experienced 16 government shutdowns, most of which lasted only a few days.
What Happens Next?
The Senate is expected to revisit stopgap funding bills from both parties on Wednesday. The Republican proposal would extend funding until 21 November, though it remains unclear whether bipartisan agreement is possible.
Meanwhile, the shutdown’s effects will ripple across the country. Federal employees face missed paychecks, leading to staffing shortages in airports and public services. Cultural institutions like the Smithsonian said they only have enough funds to remain open for one week.
With political divisions deepening and critical services at risk, pressure is mounting on both parties to strike a deal before the shutdown inflicts lasting economic and social damage.
