Washington DC, United States: The US federal government has officially shut down for the first time in six years after a deadlocked Congress failed to pass a funding measure.

The shutdown usually occurs when Congress is unable to pass the funding bills that keep federal agencies running into the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1.

Read Also: What Does Trump’s Golden Statue Holding Bitcoin Outside The US Capitol Signify?

What Is A Federal Shutdown In US?

During the shut down, hundreds of thousands of government employees might be suspended or made to work without pay. Though essential services like social security, military duties, immigration enforcement, and air traffic control will continue, other services may be disrupted or delayed during the shutdown period.

Services that may be disrupted include food safety inspections, immigration hearings, and air travel. In 2018, another shutdown occurred when Trump and Democrats had a face-off, which lasted 34 days. During that time, around 800,000 of the federal government’s 2.1 million employees were impacted.

Read Also: “We’ve Lost India & Russia To Deepest, Darkest China”: Donald Trump’s New Swipe After SCO Summit

Reason For The New Government Shutdown

As the new fiscal year starts from the first of this month, Congress must pass a funding measure before the end of September to avoid a lapse. However, the Senate rejected competing stopgap solutions to avoid a government shutdown after the Republican-controlled House narrowly passed a funding bill with only one Democrat voting in favor.

Trump had earlier this week canceled meetings with Democratic congressional leaders, which enraged Democrats, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries blaming the President and congressional Republicans, who control both houses, for the shutdown.

While Republicans insist Democrats need to simply agree to extend current funding for another seven weeks, Democrats are demanding any funding bill contain an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies.

Watch: Auditing The Human Rights Deficits Of India: Speech By Aakar Patel