The US government has shut down after politicians failed to agree a new budget, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers on unpaid leave.
In a dramatic night in Washington, Republican leaders fell short of the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass a spending bill to fund the government until 16 February.
Without some type of funding bill, the US government technically ran out of money at midnight on Friday (5am GMT).
That forced the government shutdown, with scores of federal agencies across America unable to continue operating.
Republicans accused the Democrats of holding the government ‘hostage’ over demands to protect 700,000 “Dreamers” — undocumented immigrants who arrived in the US as children — from deportation.
As the midnight deadline passed, the White House said it will not negotiate with the Democrats on immigration until the end of the shutdown.
“We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.
“When Democrats start paying our armed forces and first responders we will reopen negotiations on immigration reform.”
The American Federation of Government Employees estimates about 850,000 workers, out of a total 3.5 million, could be told to stay home without pay until Congress reaches an agreement.
Food inspections, federal law enforcement, airport security checks, and other vital services will continue, as will social security, other federal benefit programs and military operations.
But most federal workers will not be paid.
Source: Agencies
