US Government Shutdown Begins As Partisan Division Rules Washington -

The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could be a long, grueling standoff that could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs.

There was no clear path out of the impasse, while agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, opens new tab, slow air travel, opens new tab, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from United States’s troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million.

Republican President Donald Trump, whose campaign to radically reshape the federal government is already on track to push out some 300,000 workers by December, warned congressional Democrats that a shutdown could clear the path for more job cuts.

Vice President JD Vance issued an unusual warning about air safety, noting that air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration personnel — essential staff who work through shutdowns — would be worried about delayed paychecks.

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“If you’re flying today, I hope, of course, you arrive safely and on time, but you may not arrive on time because the TSA and the air traffic controllers are not getting paid today,” Vance said on Fox News.

The United States’s longest-government shutdown, which stretched over 35 days in 2018-2019 during Trump’s first term, ended in part after flight delays caused by air traffic controllers calling in sick.

Senate Blocked Government Fund

Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a stopgap measure to fund the government through Nov. 21 over Republicans’ refusal to attach an extension of health benefits for millions of Americans that are due to expire at the end of the year.

Republicans say the issue must be addressed separately.
Both sides were posturing to blame the other and looking for advantage in the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune scheduled another series of votes on Wednesday, hoping to pressure Democrats to break ranks.

The shutdown was set to delay the release of some government economic reports, adding unease to Wall Street investors at a time of economic uncertainty.