US government shuts down after Senate fails to pass funding bill

The U.S. government officially shut down at midnight after Congress and the White House failed to reach a deal to extend federal funding, marking the first shutdown since 2018.

President Donald Trump’s Republican Party, despite holding majorities in both chambers of Congress, could not secure the 60 Senate votes needed to advance a funding bill. Both GOP and Democratic proposals were rejected just hours before the deadline, leaving no bipartisan solution, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

About 750,000 federal employees are now furloughed without pay, while others in essential services — including TSA staff, air traffic controllers, law enforcement, and the military — must work without pay. Lawmakers and the president will continue to receive their salaries. The Congressional Budget Office estimates back pay for furloughed workers will cost taxpayers $400 million once the government reopens.

National parks will remain partially open, while Medicare and Social Security remain unaffected, though new applications may be delayed.

The shutdown follows months of partisan conflict, with Democrats demanding healthcare provisions, including continued Obamacare subsidies, and stronger assurances against unilateral spending cuts by Trump. Republicans insisted on passing a “clean” short-term bill to keep government spending at current levels until late November.

The political blame game has already begun. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of “plunging America into a shutdown,” while Senate Majority Leader John Thune predicted Democrats would eventually relent under public pressure.

Polls show divided public opinion: a New York Times survey found 26% would blame Trump and the GOP, 19% Democrats, while 33% would blame both equally. A Marist poll showed 38% blaming Republicans and 27% blaming Democrats.

The standoff was further fuelled by Trump’s release of an AI-generated video mocking Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, which drew sharp backlash.

With no resolution in sight, White House budget director Russell Vought ordered agencies to implement shutdown plans. Lawmakers will reconvene on October 1, but the length of the shutdown remains uncertain.

By Vugar Khalilov