The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after dueling stopgap funding plans failed again in the Senate, leaving Congress at an impasse [cbsnews.com#1][nytimes.com#1]. Democrats are conditioning votes on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and reversing Medicaid cuts, while Republicans and the White House push a clean short-term funding bill first [vox.com#2][pbs.org#1][cbsnews.com#4]. About 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed daily until funding resumes, but essential services continue and many national parks will remain generally open with limited staffing [thehill.com#5][abcnews.go.com#3][chicagotribune.com#1].
Highlights:
- Competing demands: Democrats want any funding bill to include an extension of enhanced ACA subsidies and address Medicaid cuts; Republicans support a 'clean' short-term funding measure first [vox.com#2][pbs.org#1][cbsnews.com#4].
- Failed votes: Dueling proposals to extend government funding both failed for the third time in two weeks, with a few Democrats and an independent breaking ranks to back the GOP plan [nytimes.com#1][nytimes.com#2].
- Workers’ status: CBO estimates roughly 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed daily, but all federal employees are guaranteed back pay under a 2019 law; members of Congress continue to be paid [thehill.com#5][cbsnews.com#7].
- Parks access: National parks will generally stay open with limited services and staffing, though some sites like the Liberty Bell are closed to visitors [abcnews.go.com#3][chicagotribune.com#1][cbsnews.com#8].
- Talks continue: Despite public blame-trading, a small bipartisan group of senators has begun negotiations as the shutdown enters day two [npr.org#1].
It’s a rare point of unification, – Jim Kessler
Perspectives:
- Senate Democratic leaders: Any government spending package must extend ACA subsidies set to expire, unifying the caucus around a health care-focused standoff. (AP News)
- White House: Republicans and the administration argue funding should be restored first through a clean bill before negotiating policy differences. (PBS NewsHour)
- Fact-checkers: Claims that Democrats are demanding free health care for immigrants in the U.S. illegally are false or misleading; the core dispute centers on ACA subsidies. (TIME)
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto: One of several Democrats who voted with Republicans to avert a shutdown explained her decision to keep the government open. (NPR)
- Federal employees: Workers describe the strain of lost income and uncertainty, with some expressing mixed feelings while recognizing the stakes of the health care fight. (Washington Examiner)
Sources:
- Democrats Trapped by Decades of Messaging on Government Shutdowns – dailysignal.com
- What the Government Shutdown Is Really All About – slate.com
- With shutdown, Democrats take a perilous risk at a precarious party moment – latimes.com
- The Government Shutdown Is a Distraction—From Our $37 Trillion Debt – reason.com
- The Real Stakes of the Shutdown – allsides.com
- Democrats Totally Walked Right Into a Shutdown Trap – pjmedia.com
- Elizabeth Warren on why Democrats had to shut down the government – vox.com
- Congress Remains Deadlocked as Shutdown Enters First Day – nytimes.com
- White House says firings 'imminent' as plan to reopen government collapses – lemonde.fr
- Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown – pbs.org
- Government shutdown live updates as impasse enters second day – cbsnews.com
- Senate Dems block bid to end government shutdown as agencies set to lay off 750K employees daily – nypost.com
- Furloughs, closures and mass firings threats: What's next in the shutdown fight – npr.org
- Democratic operatives urge party not to retreat on shutdown – thehill.com
- Democrats voted for a shutdown. Now they have to find a way out – abcnews.go.com
- Democrats embrace a shutdown fight in a rare moment of unity against Trump – apnews.com
- A federal government shutdown occurs in the United States after a funding bill fails to be passed, the first government shutdown since January 2019. – ctvnews.ca
- Republicans Say Democrats Want to Give Healthcare to Illegal Immigrants. Here Are the Facts – time.com
- The Government Shutdown Is Based on a 16-Year-Old Lie – thenation.com
- Fact check: Trump falsely claims Democrats want to give free health care to ‘illegal aliens’ in government shutdown battle – reddit.com
- Republicans are lying to the American people about Trump’s government shutdown – msnbc.com
- Government shutdown leaves federal workers torn – washingtonexaminer.com
- Trump threatens to use government shutdown to enact “irreversible” cuts and mass layoffs – salon.com
- National parks will remain ‘generally’ open during the shutdown, but Liberty Bell doors are closed – chicagotribune.com
- Schumer Says Trump Isn't The Biggest Villain In Shutdown Standoff – yahoo.com
