The US government has shut down for the first time in seven years because Congress did not pass a budget in time to fund several federal agencies, according to CNN and Bloomberg. It marks the first government shutdown since 2019. Leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties claim they are not responsible for the funding halt.
Congress fails to pass funding bill
Republicans want Democrats to agree to extend current funding for seven weeks. Democrats refuse to do this till they receive significant concessions in return for their votes on any funding bill in the Senate. Senators left the Capitol on September 30 amid uncertainty about how long the shutdown will last. On October 1, the Senate is expected to vote again on the same Republican funding plan. Republican leaders promise to bring it to a vote daily until enough Democrats agree to reopen the government.
What shutdown means
A government shutdown means that hundreds of thousands of federal employees will face unpaid furloughs. Employees in essential agencies must continue to work, though many will not be paid until Congress restores funding. Some essential positions will continue to receive pay because their salaries are funded outside of annual congressional appropriations.
The Trump administration reportedly plans to use the shutdown to carry out mass layoffs of federal workers and put about 750,000 civil servants on temporary leave, that worsen the economic impact and extend it beyond the government sector.
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