The deadlock, which stems from partisan clashes over health care funding, halted operations across multiple federal agencies at 12:01 a.m. ET (0401 GMT). The shutdown is expected to affect hundreds of thousands of government employees and disrupt services for millions of Americans.

President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders have traded blame for the impasse. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump suggested the shutdown could serve political purposes, saying it might help eliminate what he described as “Democrat things.”

“So we’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And they’re Democrats, they’re going to be Democrats,” Trump said, adding, “A lot of good can come down from shutdowns.”

While essential services including the U.S. Postal Service, military operations, and entitlement programs like Social Security and food stamps will continue, up to 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed without pay, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

The failed budget deal follows days of tense, last-minute negotiations. On Monday, a high-stakes meeting at the White House made little progress. Despite the House of Representatives passing a stopgap funding measure, the Senate did not act in time.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted a midnight video on social media, featuring a countdown clock over the U.S. Capitol. “The Republican shutdown has just begun because Republicans wouldn’t protect America’s health care,” Schumer said. “We are going to keep fighting for the American people.”

Source: Punch