{"id":194783,"date":"2025-10-01T13:30:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:30:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/194783\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T13:30:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T13:30:21","slug":"government-shutdown-begins-as-nation-faces-new-period-of-uncertainty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/194783\/","title":{"rendered":"Government shutdown begins as nation faces new period of uncertainty"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Plunged into a government shutdown<\/a>, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump<\/a> and Congress failed to strike an agreement<\/a> to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n

Roughly 750,000 federal workers<\/a> are expected to be furloughed, some potentially fired<\/a> by the Trump administration. Many offices will be shuttered<\/a>, perhaps permanently, as Trump vows to \u201cdo things that are irreversible, that are bad\u201d as retribution. His deportation agenda<\/a> is expected to run full speed ahead, while education<\/a>, environmental<\/a> and other services sputter. The economic fallout<\/a> is expected to ripple nationwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t want it to shut down,\u201d Trump said at the White House before the midnight deadline.<\/p>\n

But the president<\/a>, who met privately with congressional leadership<\/a> this week, appeared unable to negotiate any deal between Democrats and Republicans to prevent that outcome.<\/p>\n

]]><\/p>\n

This is the third time Trump has presided over a federal funding lapse<\/a>, the first since his return to the White House this year, in a remarkable record that underscores the polarizing divide over budget priorities and a political climate that rewards hardline positions rather than more traditional compromises.<\/p>\n

Plenty of blame being thrown around<\/p>\n

The Democrats picked this fight<\/a>, which was unusual for the party that prefers to keep government running, but their voters are eager to challenge<\/a> the president\u2019s second-term agenda. Democrats are demanding funding for health care subsidies that are expiring for millions of people under the Affordable Care Act, spiking the costs of insurance premiums<\/a> nationwide.<\/p>\n

Republicans have refused to negotiate<\/a> for now and have encouraged Trump to steer clear of any talks. After the White House meeting, the president posted a cartoonish fake video mocking the Democratic leadership that was widely viewed as unserious and racist<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What neither side has devised is an easy offramp to prevent what could become a protracted closure. The ramifications are certain to spread beyond the political arena, upending the lives of Americans who rely on the government for benefit payments, work contracts and the various services being thrown into turmoil.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the government spends money on is a demonstration of our country\u2019s priorities,\u201d said Rachel Snyderman, a former White House budget official who is the managing director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank in Washington.<\/p>\n

Shutdowns, she said, \u201conly inflict economic cost, fear and confusion across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Economic fallout expected to ripple nationwide<\/p>\n

An economic jolt could be felt in a matter of days. The government is expected Friday to produce its monthly jobs report, which may or may not be delivered.<\/p>\n

]]><\/p>\n

While the financial markets have generally \u201cshrugged\u201d during past shutdowns, according to a Goldman Sachs analysis, this one could be different partly because there are no signs of broader negotiations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are also few good analogies to this week\u2019s potential shutdown,\u201d the analysis said.<\/p>\n

Across the government, preparations have been underway. Trump\u2019s Office of Management and Budget, headed by Russ Vought, directed agencies to execute plans for not just furloughs, as are typical during a federal funding lapse, but mass firings<\/a> of federal workers. It\u2019s part of the Trump administration\u2019s mission, including its Department of Government Efficiency, to shrink the federal government.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s staying open and shutting down<\/p>\n

The Medicare and Medicaid health care programs are expected to continue, though staffing shortages could mean delays for some services. The Pentagon would still function. And most employees will stay on the job at the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n

But Trump has warned that the administration could focus on programs that are important to Democrats, \u201ccutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like.\u201d<\/p>\n

As agencies sort out which workers are essential, or not, Smithsonian museums are expected to stay open at least until Monday. A group of former national park superintendents<\/a> urged the Trump administration to close the parks to visitors, arguing that poorly staffed parks in a shutdown are a danger to the public and put park resources at risk.<\/p>\n

No easy exit as health care costs soar<\/p>\n

Ahead of Wednesday\u2019s start of the fiscal year, House Republicans had approved a temporary funding bill, over opposition from Democrats, to keep government running into mid-November while broader negotiations continue.<\/p>\n

But that bill has failed repeatedly<\/a> in the Senate, including late Tuesday. It takes a 60-vote threshold for approval, which requires cooperation between the two parties. A Democratic bill also failed. With a 53-47 GOP majority, Democrats are leveraging their votes to demand negotiation.<\/p>\n

Senate Majority Leader John Thune<\/a> has said Republicans are happy to discuss the health care issue with Democrats \u2014 but not as part of talks to keep the government open. More votes are expected Wednesday.<\/p>\n

]]><\/p>\n

The standoff is a political test for Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer<\/a>, who has drawn scorn from a restive base of left-flank voters pushing the party to hold firm in its demands for health care funding.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmericans are hurting with higher costs,\u201d Schumer said after the failed vote Tuesday.<\/p>\n

House Speaker Mike Johnson<\/a> sent lawmakers home nearly two weeks ago after having passed the GOP bill, blaming Democrats for the shutdown.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to fight Trump,\u201d Johnson said Tuesday on CNBC. \u201cA lot of good people are going to be hurt because of this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trump, during his meeting with the congressional leaders, expressed surprise at the scope of the rising costs of health care, but Democrats left with no path toward talks.<\/p>\n

During Trump\u2019s first term, the nation endured its longest-ever shutdown, 35 days, over his demands for funds Congress refused to provide to build his promised U.S.-Mexico border wall.<\/p>\n

In 2013, the government shut down for 16 days during the Obama presidency over GOP demands to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Other closures date back decades.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

Associated Press writers Matt Brown, Joey Cappelletti, Will Weissert, Fatima Hussein and other AP reporters nationwide contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Copyright
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