By Diana George

Copyright timesnownews

At the stroke of midnight in Washington, the United States entered its first government shutdown in years. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees now face unpaid leave, with many public services and programs grinding to a halt. The deadlock comes despite Republicans holding a majority in the Senate – a majority that ultimately proved insufficient to pass a funding bill before the October 1 deadline. What’s At The Heart Of The Shutdown Debate? Democrats are insisting on extending $350 billion in Obamacare tax credits, reversing Medicaid cuts linked to Trump-era legislation, protecting medical research funding, and blocking new work requirements. Senate Democrats blocked the Republican proposal for funding extension in a 55–45 vote, short of the 60 votes required to move the bill forward. Democrats said they would not agree to a spending bill that excludes extended health care subsidies. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer argued that Republicans are trying to “bully” Democrats by refusing to negotiate. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries declared: “We are not going to support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the health care of everyday Americans.” Republicans, however, insisted that the government must first remain open. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, “We can reopen it tomorrow” if enough Democrats cross over. He argued that ACA subsidies can be debated separately. Jeffries, however, was blunt: “No one can trust their word on health care,” citing Republicans’ repeated efforts to roll back the Affordable Care Act over the past decade. A Partisan Clash Turns Ugly Vice President JD Vance put the blame squarely on Democrats, calling them “unreasonable” and insisting: “I think we’re headed into a shutdown because the Democrats won’t do the right thing. I hope they change their minds, but we’ll see.” Schumer, however, pinned the blame squarely back. “We hope they sit down with us and talk,” Schumer said after the vote. “Otherwise, it’s the Republicans will be driving us straight towards a shutdown tonight at midnight. The American people will blame them for bringing the federal government to a halt.” Trump’s Spoof Video Further Stokes Tensions President Donald Trump, who made a late push to strike a deal, held meetings with congressional leaders from both parties. But instead of easing tensions, his actions worsened them. He posted a controversial video that used a fake voice to accuse Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer of supporting “free healthcare” for undocumented immigrants and mock Democrats as “woke.” The voice claimed: “There’s no way to sugar coat it: Nobody likes Democrats anymore.” Democratic leaders reacted sharply. Jeffries said: “Bigotry will get you nowhere. Cancel the Cuts. Lower the Cost. Save Healthcare. We are NOT backing down.” Schumer added: “If you think your shutdown is a joke, it just proves what we all know: You can’t negotiate. You can only throw tantrums.” The Numbers Game in the Senate Republicans may control the Senate, but under chamber rules, they still require at least eight Democratic votes to move any funding bill forward. Schumer made clear the divide: “If the president accepts some of the measures we’ve proposed, including health care fixes and rescissions, a shutdown can be avoided. But major differences remain.” Democrats Resist Stopgap Bills Both Schumer and Jeffries dismissed proposals for a short-term extension. Jeffries declared: “We are a ‘no’ to kicking the can down the road. This issue needs to be dealt with immediately.” Schumer echoed: “We have to act now. The time is a-wasting.” Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, the only Democrat who supported a GOP funding plan last week, warned that prolonging the standoff could unleash serious disruption. “You’re risking chaos and affecting millions of Americans,” he told CNN, adding that a shutdown might give Trump cover to scale back federal government operations — “the ideal outcome for Project 2025.” Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.