U.S. government partially shuts down over funding dispute

The U.S. Senate failed to pass either of two federal spending bills, and starting Wednesday, the United States entered a so-called government shutdown phase, suspending operations at some federal agencies, BBC reports.

The Senate first overwhelmingly rejected the Democrats’ funding bill — with Democrats lacking a majority in the chamber — and then failed to approve the Republicans’ bill. Although Republicans hold a majority, it is not large enough to secure passage.

As a result, some but not all federal agencies in the U.S. have been closed. Hundreds of thousands of government employees are being sent on unpaid leave.

The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum confirming the shutdown and blaming the Democrats for the impasse.

While budget conflicts are common in American politics, this round of disputes is particularly tense, as President Trump has spent the past nine months continuously cutting federal staffing and spending.

In the past, similar shutdowns were considered politically risky because they disrupted citizens’ daily lives and harmed the image of legislators and the president.

However, this time the Trump administration appears prepared to keep a significant portion of the government closed for an extended period. Administration officials have threatened to use the shutdown to identify “non-essential” employees who could potentially be permanently removed.

Throughout his nine months in office, Trump has sought to reduce spending and has already dismissed many federal employees. The current government shutdown could allow the administration to accelerate large-scale cuts across the federal bureaucracy.