Funding for the US federal government expired at 00:01 EDT on 1 October after Senate Republicans failed to pass a stopgap bill, triggering the first shutdown in six years. Hundreds of thousands of non-essential workers face furloughs, while essential services such as national security and air traffic control continue without pay. Republicans push for a short-term funding extension, while Democrats insist on including Affordable Care Act subsidies. Although every shutdown unfolds differently, past episodes have canceled immigration hearings and slowed federal lending to homebuyers and small businesses, highlighting the widespread impact of such political deadlock.