Oct. 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday after the Trump administration and Democrats failed to agree on a funding resolution, trigging a blame game and creating uncertainty over the future of federal programs and employees.
Over Tuesday, both sides failed to pass legislation to keep the government open -- a stalemate the product of Republicans trying to pass a funding resolution that holds spending flat for the rest of the year, while Democrats are adamant that the resolution protect and expand medical coverage for millions of Americans who could lose their insurance by the end 2025.
After the deadline passed, each side was quick to blame the other.
"It's midnight. The Republican shutdown has just begun because Republicans wouldn't protect America's healthcare," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Senate minority leader, said in a recorded statement posted to X.
"We are going to keep fighting for the American people."
