U.S. government officially shuts down: Budget stalemate paralyzes Washington

Pars Today – Following the U.S. Senate's failure to pass funding bills, the federal government has officially shut down. Hundreds of thousands of employees are being furloughed without pay, and public services have ground to a halt.

The U.S. federal government entered a shutdown phase early Wednesday morning, an event triggered by the Senate's inability to approve budget legislation. This marks the first government shutdown since 2018, with consequences including the suspension of many government services and mandatory unpaid furloughs for non-essential personnel. The White House has blamed the Democrats for the deadlock, while Donald Trump has warned that the consequences of this crisis will primarily affect them. Previously, the White House Office of Management and Budget had instructed government agencies to prepare for a shutdown. / ISNA