(MENAFN) The US federal government has entered a shutdown for the first time in nearly seven years, following a deadlock between Republicans and Democrats over a critical Senate spending bill.

With the funding deadline expiring Wednesday, both parties rejected each other’s proposals in consecutive votes, resulting in a funding lapse that halted government operations.

Democrats refused to support the GOP’s “clean” spending bill, demanding instead an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire year-end and the restoration of Medicaid funding cuts. Republicans insisted their plan was a straightforward, non-partisan fix, but Democrats warned it would jeopardize healthcare for millions.

Blame quickly shifted between the two camps.

Senate Republican leader John Thune stated, “far-left interest groups and far-left Democrat members wanted a showdown with the president.” In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer charged the GOP with “risking America’s healthcare” and accused them of bad-faith negotiations.

The White House directly blamed Democrats, featuring on its website a countdown clock titled ‘Democrats Have Shut Down the Government’ to highlight the stalemate.

The Senate is scheduled to revisit the Republican funding proposal Wednesday morning, with GOP lawmakers pledging daily votes until Democrats relent.

As a result, federal agencies will face partial shutdowns, and numerous government workers will be furloughed. The last shutdown began on December 22, 2018, lasting 35 days.

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