U.S. Government Shutdown Begins

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 standoff that threatens thousands of federal jobs, David Morgan, Bo Erickson, Nolan D. McCaskill, and Richard Cowan reported for Reuters.

At issue is $1.7 trillion in agency operations funding.

The 15th government shutdown since 1981 halts the release of key economic data, slows air travel, suspends scientific research, withholds military pay, and furloughs 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million.

At issue is $1.7 trillion in agency operations funding, about one-quarter of the government’s $7 trillion budget, with the remainder going to health programs, retirement benefits, and interest payments on the $37.5 trillion national debt.

Trump, who is already pushing a plan that could eliminate 300,000 federal jobs by December, warned Democrats the shutdown could pave the way for “irreversible” cuts.

It began just hours after the Senate rejected a short-term bill that would have funded operations through November 21. Democrats opposed the measure because Republicans refused to include an extension of expiring health benefits, Jasper Ward and Katharine Jackson also reported for Reuters.