Mass workers exit, budget standoff push US govt toward paralysis

WASHINGTON: A US government shutdown loomed after the Senate failed late Tuesday to advance a stopgap spending bill, setting the stage for federal agencies to slash operations to “essential” services when funding lapses at midnight. The continued standoff has pushed the US govt towards paralysis, without any potential end in sight.

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The measure fell 55-45, well short of the 60 votes required to move forward, making it all but certain that many federal functions, from routine permit processing and customer service hotlines to scientific research and some environmental cleanups, will pause. Agencies warned that air travel could be slowed and the Labor Department would delay its closely watched monthly jobs report. Military personnel, border security and other critical staff would remain on duty but would not receive pay until lawmakers resolve the impasse.

The stalemate comes as Democrats press for permanent Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at year-end, while Republicans insist the budget and health care be handled separately. Senate Republican Leader John Thune said the chamber intends to bring the House-passed bill up again on Wednesday, but any late agreement would also need action from the Republican-controlled House, which is not in session.

Compounding the crisis, this week marks the largest single‑week exodus of federal employees in nearly eight decades: roughly 154,000 workers who accepted buyouts are leaving the payroll, a wave officials and unions say is stripping agencies of institutional know‑how. Reuters reporting shows the departures have hit a broad swath of government work, from weather forecasting and food safety to NASA engineering and public‑health surveillance, and union leaders warn of long‑term harm to program delivery.

President Donald Trump intensified the political pressure on Tuesday, threatening further firings and saying employees who oppose his agenda would be dismissed. The administration has already moved aggressively to shrink the civil service through buyouts, dismissals and hiring limits; the Office of Personnel Management estimated the measures will produce billions in annual savings.

Separately, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump addressed senior military leaders at Quantico this week, with Hegseth urging commanders to resign if they cannot support his reforms. The president criticised diversity initiatives in his address. He also floated the idea of domestic deployments in US cities as “training grounds.” Critics from both parties said the remarks risk politicising the armed forces.

Reuters report said that Trump announced plans to send National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon over the weekend. This comes after he sent Guard and active-duty Marines to Los Angeles earlier this year, despite protests from local officials. He has also promised to send troops to Chicago.

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With trust between the parties low and several high‑stakes questions unresolved, it remains unclear how long the shutdown will last. Congress has repeatedly used short funding gaps as leverage; how this one ends will depend on whether negotiators find a deal that addresses both spending levels and the Democrats’ demand to protect health‑care subsidies.