US Government Shuts Down After Senate Failure

The federal government shut down Oct. 1 after the Senate failed to pass a Republican-led continuing resolution, leaving agencies partly closed and thousands of workers furloughed. Republicans say Democrats rejected a simple seven-week funding bill and are blocking a clean extension by insisting on major health-care policy changes, including restoring benefits they portray as taxpayer-funded care for undocumented immigrants. Democrats counter that Republicans refuse to address an impending health-care crisis by extending Affordable Care Act tax credits and other patient protections. Lawmakers and governors from multiple states traded partisan blame publicly, and some senators and members pledged to forgo pay. With GOP leaders vowing not to accept policy changes until funding is restored and Democrats standing firm, the stalemate’s end remains uncertain.