(NewsNation) — The first government shutdown in nearly seven years became official Tuesday, hours before the midnight deadline to keep the government working and funded.
The first of two votes to fund the government and avoid a shutdown failed, 53-47, with 60 votes in favor needed. The second vote failed 55-45, with Rep. Rand Paul the sole Republican to vote against the proposal.
President Donald Trump said a shutdown was “likely” during an Oval Office announcement. earlier Tuesday. He, like other Republicans, blamed Democrats for the potential shutdown.
Republicans wanted Democrats to approve a plan to fund the federal government through most of November, but Democrats wanted to see provisions added, including the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and the overturning of Medicaid cuts tied to Trump’s “big, beautiful” legislation.
Benefits for millions of low-income Americans could now be delayed or suspended. Food safety inspections and outbreak monitoring may be slowed due to potential reduced staffing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
FEMA disaster aid could also be paused, while essential personnel, such as TSA agents, would work unpaid during a shutdown.
Programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid would continue, but customer service could be delayed due to potential furloughs.
Both sides had blamed the other for the stalemate.
Party leaders left a White House meeting with Trump on Monday without a deal on a spending bill. During the meeting, Republicans accused Democratic leadership of holding government funding hostage.
“Their bill has not one iota of Democratic input. That is never how we’ve done this before … so, it’s up to the Republicans whether they want to shut down or not,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Monday.
Vice President JD Vance pointed the finger at Democrats: “We’re not going to let you take the people’s government hostage and then give you everything you want.”
House Democrats held an eleventh-hour strategy meeting late Monday in an attempt to unify the party and call Republicans back to negotiations.
The last government shutdown, also under Trump, lasted 35 days.