Government Shutdown Begins; Mass Furloughs Imminent

The U.S. federal government shut down after Congress failed to pass stopgap funding, triggering immediate mass furloughs while many essential employees continue working without pay. Agencies are preparing layoffs and holding billions in projects, and the Office of Management and Budget has frozen roughly $18 billion in infrastructure funds. The Congressional Budget Office warns hundreds of thousands could be furloughed each day with steep daily wage losses, recalling the damage of the 2018–19 shutdown. Democrats say funding must include an extension of Affordable Care Act premium subsidies enacted during COVID, while Republicans and the White House insist the government reopen first and debate subsidies later. Analysts say the administration’s messaging — amplified by Vice President J.D. Vance and the White House press team — is shaping public perception and could leave Democrats politically vulnerable. Lawmakers warn the shutdown could last days to weeks, with the administration saying mass firings could begin imminently and local services from Hill Air Force Base to Puget Sound and Mount Rainier already facing operational and financial strain.