Senate Gridlock Forces US Government Shutdown After Funding Plan C0llapse

Senate Gridlock Forces US Government Shutdown After Funding Plan Collapse

The US government has shut down following the Senate’s inability to reach an agreement on a last-minute funding bill. Here’s how the situation unfolded:

The shutdown, the first since late 2018, is expected to temporarily suspend some US government services while others continue operating.

Earlier, President Donald Trump warned of widespread “irreversible” layoffs of federal employees if the shutdown proceeded.

Our business reporter notes that global financial markets are largely dismissing the shutdown as a temporary setback.

Essential workers will keep working, even in some cases without compensation, while other government employees have been placed on unpaid leave. Meanwhile, politicians in Congress will still receive their salaries.

Republican Senator John Thune stated that the party will not allow itself to be “taken hostage,” whereas Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, accused Republicans of spreading falsehoods.