US government shuts down after budget standoff

The United States government has entered a shutdown after lawmakers failed to agree on a new budget before a midnight deadline. It is the first shutdown since 2019 and could affect hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

The deadlock centres on health care funding. Democrats are demanding the restoration of subsidies for low-income families and the reversal of recent cuts to Medicaid. Republicans, led by president Donald Trump, want only a short-term extension of current spending while longer-term talks continue.

Neither side secured enough support in the 100-member Senate, where 60 votes are needed to pass funding bills. With both plans rejected, government operations began winding down early on Wednesday. Essential services such as the postal service, military operations and welfare payments will continue, but up to 750,000 civil servants could be furloughed without pay until a deal is reached.

President Trump blamed Democrats, accusing them of putting their health care priorities ahead of national stability. He also suggested that the shutdown could be used to cut back on federal programmes linked to his political opponents. Democrats, meanwhile, vowed to stand firm to “fix the health care crisis”.

The last major shutdown in 2018-2019 lasted 35 days, the longest in US history. It remains unclear how long this latest impasse will continue.

^{The US Capitol hours before a partial government shutdown © ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP}