US government shutdown begins as politicians remain in funding deadlock

A government shutdown has begun in the US after Congress failed to pass a measure that would have kept federal funds flowing. 

Democrats had been leveraging the possibility of a shutdown in an attempt to negotiate an extension to healthcare benefits. 

But US President Donald Trump and Republicans were not willing to compromise. 

It is the first government shutdown in more than six years.

When a lapse in funding occurs, government departments are required to cease activity and furlough “non-excepted” employees.

At issue on the government funding front is $US1.7 trillion ($2.58 trillion) for agency operations, which amounts to roughly one-quarter of the government’s total $US7 trillion ($10.6 trillion) budget.

Much of the remainder goes to health and retirement programs and interest payments on the growing $US37.5 trillion ($57 trillion) debt.

This is the 15th government shutdown since 1981.

The longest government shutdown in US history stretched over 35 days during December 2018 and January 2019 during Mr Trump’s first term in office, in a dispute over border security.

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