


The federal government shut down overnight Wednesday, as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on a stopgap funding bill amid a Sept. 30 deadline.
When will the shutdown end? That’s anyone’s guess.
President Trump’s administration has threatened mass firings and potential program cuts if funding expired. Labor unions on Tuesday filed suit to try to prevent job actions beyond traditional furloughs, calling the threat “not only illegal – it’s immoral and unconscionable.”
Senators forced a shutdown with a pair of votes on Tuesday evening, with both parties falling short of the 60 votes needed to pass a short-term funding bill. The Democrats’ version included the health care funding that they had demanded in return for supporting a stopgap measure.
The GOP version would’ve funded the government at current levels through Nov. 21. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has said the funding bill wasn’t the place for health care policy. Three Democrats voted with Republicans.
Follow along here for updates all day.