The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m. after Senate Democrats voted against a Trump-backed stopgap funding bill on Tuesday night.
The measure, which would have extended federal funding until November 21, failed on a 55-45, with only 3 Democrats voting to not shut the government down.
Seven Democrats would have needed to cross the aisle and join Republicans to prevent the shutdown. Instead, the bill’s rejection ensures a lapse in funding across federal agencies beginning at midnight.
Democrats had conditioned their support on securing $1.5 trillion in additional spending.
The proposed funding package included healthcare coverage for illegal aliens and federal dollars for sex reassignment surgeries for minors, measures that Republicans opposed.
The vote sets up the first federal government shutdown in years, with federal agencies preparing for closures, furloughs, and significant disruptions.
Essential personnel, including active-duty military service members, will continue working without pay until funding is restored.
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The decision comes despite polling showing limited public support for the shutdown.
Earlier on Tuesday, a New York Times/Siena poll found that 65 percent of Americans believed Democrats should not allow the government to close over the funding dispute.
Nearly all Republicans polled—98 percent—opposed the shutdown, along with almost half of Democratic respondents.
🚨 POLL: 65% of Americans say Democrats SHOULD NOT shut down the government pic.twitter.com/9schOzvYfV
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 30, 2025
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) dismissed the poll results, claiming that the survey was biased.
His comments were met with pushback in the chamber, as Republicans pointed to the poll’s source, the New York Times, a paper often aligned with Democratic positions.
UPDATE: Cryin’ Chuck Schumer says the poll is “biased”
🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/ckpP7XFvk0 pic.twitter.com/bxT7M5JxBv
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 30, 2025
The political fight has centered on Democratic demands for expansive spending priorities versus Republican calls for short-term funding while broader negotiations continue.
Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, had pressed for the temporary measure to avoid immediate disruptions while longer-term debates over spending could proceed.
The failure of the stopgap bill leaves the two parties at a stalemate.
Republicans have warned that the shutdown could have wide-ranging consequences for government workers and the public, while Democrats have held firm in their demands for the additional spending provisions.
Federal departments have already begun to prepare for the shutdown’s impacts.
Agencies have notified employees of potential furloughs, while programs deemed non-essential are expected to be suspended. Only core services will continue operating.
The shutdown follows weeks of tense negotiations between both chambers.
While Republicans put forward the stopgap measure to avert an immediate crisis, Democrats rejected it over policy demands that remain deeply contested.
As the midnight deadline approaches, no additional votes have been scheduled, leaving the federal government without funding authority as of the early morning hours.
The standoff is expected to continue until one side yields or new terms are negotiated in Congress.
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