U.S Government Shuts Down As Funding Bill Fails Passage

…As 750,000 Workers Risk Layoff

The United States government has shut down after lawmakers in Congress failed to agree on a funding bill, leaving federal agencies without money needed to keep operations running.

The shutdown, the first since 2019, comes after weeks of bitter partisan fighting over enhanced Obamacare subsidies.

Republicans pushed for a short-term extension to keep the government funded for seven weeks, while Democrats refused to back any bill without concessions on health care.

As the deadline passed, hundreds of thousands of federal employees faced layoffs, while essential workers such as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents will continue to report to work without pay until the shutdown ends.

National parks, museums, and other public services are also bracing for closures and disruptions.

Republican leaders have vowed to keep putting their stopgap funding bill on the Senate floor until enough Democrats cross over to support it.

But Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, insist the Republicans are to blame for halting government operations.

President Donald Trump has signaled that he intends to use the shutdown to push for a leaner federal government, warning that some programs could be permanently scrapped.

That threat has heightened concerns among Democrats, who argue that health care access for millions of Americans is at stake if subsidies lapse.

Tensions flared on Capitol Hill as some Democrats broke ranks to support the Republican plan. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, Angus King, and John Fetterman all backed the Republican proposal, while others openly wrestled with their votes under growing political pressure.

If no deal is reached, the consequences could be drastic. The Congressional Budget Office estimates around 750,000 federal workers, costing $400m in lost pay each day, could be affected.

While Social Security and Medicare payments will continue, services from the GI Bill hotline to cemetery maintenance are expected to halt until funding is restored.

The GI Bill hotline is a dedicated phone line operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help service members, veterans, and their dependents with questions or issues related to GI Bill education benefits.