BREAKING: Federal government enters partial shutdown after funding deadline passes

The federal government officially entered a partial shutdown early Wednesday morning after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement before the midnight deadline, leaving thousands of federal workers facing furloughs and halting a range of government services.

A short-term spending bill known as a continuing resolution (CR), passed by House Republicans on Sept. 19, collapsed in the Senate late Tuesday after Democrats blocked the measure in protest over being shut out of negotiations and in a push to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies expiring at the end of 2025. The CR would have extended current government funding levels through Nov. 21 to allow more time to finalize the FY 2026 budget.

Senate Republicans are expected to bring the measure up for another vote on Wednesday, with more negotiations likely to stretch into the weekend. But for now, President Donald Trump and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have initiated plans for an “orderly shutdown.”

Democrats argued that their exclusion from talks and the GOP’s refusal to include healthcare subsidy extensions forced their hand. Republicans accused Democrats of holding the government hostage for new spending.

“There isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). “But we are not going to be held hostage for over $1 trillion in new spending on a continuing resolution.”

Rep Maxine Waters said Democrats want to "save healthcare for all," and that the party wants to "keep the government open and we want to work with the Republicans and have a bipartisan agreement to keep this government open, and healthcare is at the top of our agenda." When asked if Democrats were demanding healthcare for illegal immigrants, Waters said the party was demanding "healthcare for everybody."

President Trump, speaking to reporters earlier in the day, insisted Republicans did not seek a shutdown but signaled that Democrats could face consequences if it continued. “We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible… like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting programs that they like,” he warned.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) fired back during a Tuesday press conference: “Trump admitted himself that he is using Americans as political pawns. He is admitting that he is doing the firing of people.”

Shortly after the Senate vote, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought directed agencies to “execute their plans for an orderly shutdown,” citing Democrats’ refusal to advance the CR. “It is unclear how long Democrats will maintain their untenable posture,” the memo stated.

Roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed daily, with a combined compensation cost of about $400 million per day, according to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projections. Active-duty service members will continue working but without pay, while lawmakers will still receive their salaries.

Vought has previously warned agencies to prepare for mass layoffs beyond typical furloughs if the shutdown drags on.

According to Fox News, as part of shutdown protocols, the Capitol Visitor Center, the US Botanic Garden, and the Library of Congress are closed to the public. Congressional delegation trips abroad are canceled, and lawmakers have been advised to avoid political fundraisers and remain outside Washington until further notice.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) urged House Republicans to “stay united and on message” during the shutdown. House Democrats returned to Washington this week to draw a contrast with Republicans, while the GOP has kept its members largely away to pressure the Senate.

A new New York Times/Siena poll shows that while 65 percent of voters believe Democrats should not shut down the government to achieve their demands, independents are twice as likely to blame Republicans and Trump as Democrats for the shutdown.