US Government Shuts Down After Budget Talks Fail
The US government has entered a shutdown after Congress failed to pass a budget. Federal agencies have halted non-essential operations and most employees are being sent home. This marks the first government shutdown since 2018.
The shutdown duration remains unclear as parties disagree on healthcare funding and budget priorities
The US government has shut down after Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a federal budget. The deadline passed at 6 AM Wednesday Swedish time with no deal in place. This marks the first government shutdown since December 2018.
Congress could not reach consensus on spending priorities during overnight negotiations. Both parties blocked multiple budget proposals from each side until time ran out.
All federal agencies must now stop non-essential work. Most government employees will be sent home according to reports. The previous shutdown lasted about five weeks and cost an estimated $11 billion.
How long will this shutdown continue? The parties remain far apart on key issues. Democrats want more funding for healthcare while Republicans prefer maintaining current spending levels.
Political divisions appear deeper than during previous budget fights. Neither side shows willingness to compromise despite the serious consequences for government operations and federal workers.