Partial Federal Shutdown Begins as Funding Deal Stalls

Washington, D.C.-A partial federal government shutdown is now underway after Congress failed to pass a full funding agreement before the deadline. Essential services, including Social Security, Medicare, and the U.S. Postal Service, continue operating, but thousands of federal employees face furloughs or delayed pay.
Negotiators in the Senate say they reached a bipartisan framework late last night, but the House did not move quickly enough to avoid the lapse in funding. The shutdown affects several agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, and Interior.
Lawmakers are expected to continue negotiations this week, but there is no clear timeline for when a full funding bill will reach the President’s desk.