Partial Shutdown Threatens Virginia, Military Pay

The federal government entered a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after Congress failed to agree on spending; the Senate returned to vote on two procedural funding bills expected to fail — a Democratic 60‑vote package and a clean, House‑backed Republican stopgap that lacks support. Democrats blamed the Republican majority and Speaker Mike Johnson for the failure to govern and warned of immediate harms to military pay, federal workers, and healthcare access, while GOP leaders faulted Democrats for pushing added health‑care provisions. Negotiations remain gridlocked, with both sides trading blame and short‑term funding needing additional Democratic votes to pass. The shutdown threatens heavy regional consequences in Virginia and the D.C. area, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating up to 750,000 federal employees affected and an early daily cost of about $400 million. Some Virginia medical services and benefits will continue, but programs such as transition assistance and certain burial applications may be suspended. The political fallout could reshape the closely watched Virginia governor’s race as both parties seek to assign responsibility.