The United States has been plunged into another government shutdown as Democrats and Republicans clash over federal funding, leaving millions of Americans anxious about the impact on daily life.
The closure, which took effect on Tuesday, followed a breakdown in negotiations between Congress and the White House, reviving memories of the 2018–2019 impasse that paralysed Washington during Donald Trump’s first term.
This time, the finger-pointing has been fierce. Vice-President-turned-presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, accused Republicans of deliberately plunging the nation into crisis.
“Republicans control the White House, House and Senate. This is their shutdown,” Harris declared in a late-night post on X, insisting the party had refused to act on Americans’ rising healthcare costs.
Democratic leaders echoed her stance. Senator Patty Murray, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, blasted Republicans for refusing to “negotiate and do their job.” New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand accused the ruling party of putting “billionaires above working families,” while Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett charged Republicans with “choosing chaos.”
But the Republicans were quick to push back. In a fiery statement on X, the party claimed Democrats were “putting illegal aliens first and hurting hardworking Americans.”
Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming urged Democrats to “stop political games and do the right thing” by voting to sustain government operations. Representative Juan Ciscomani of Arizona warned that the shutdown would hit seniors, veterans, jobs and housing.
At the White House, President Trump struck a defiant tone. He told reporters that the shutdown could bring “irreversible” changes unfavourable to Democrats.
“We can cut vast numbers of people out, cut programmes they like,” he said, hinting at deep spending cuts that may follow.
In the meantime, essential workers — from health personnel and security operatives to aviation staff and the military — are expected to work without pay. Non-essential services have already ground to a halt.
To underscore its message, the White House website now bears a ticking clock showing the duration of the shutdown, alongside a bold caption that reads: “Democrats Have Shut Down the Government.”
