Accusations fly over whether Republicans or Democrats ‘own’ shutdown

The midnight shutdown of the U.S. government on Wednesday marked the beginning of what is expected to be a disruptive period for federal agencies, impacting government services and potentially putting thousands out of work. The funding stoppages resulted from a bitter impasse between congressional Democrats and Republicans, with President Donald Trump’s support, over whether health care provisions should be included in an extension of federal funding.

The Senate’s rejection of a 7-week stopgap funding measure in a 55-45 vote, followed by a failed attempt at passing a bill supported by Democrats, led to the shutdown. The blame game escalated as both parties pointed fingers at each other, with Republicans accusing Democrats of causing the shutdown by voting to close the government. On the other hand, Democrats insisted that any funding solution must include health care provisions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats for the shutdown, while Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin called Republicans inept and incompetent. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the need for negotiations and criticized Republicans for their partisan approach to funding.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris placed the blame squarely on Republicans, as they controlled the White House, House, and Senate. In contrast, Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters accused Democrats of holding up critical funding for various sectors due to their far-left wish list.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced plans to seek additional Democratic support for a short-term funding bill after three Democrats defected to support a bill to keep the government open for 7 more weeks. Thune expressed optimism that more Democrats might be willing to support the bill in a future vote.

The ongoing political deadlock continues to impact government operations and services. As the situation unfolds, the future of federal funding remains uncertain, with both parties working to find a resolution to reopen the government. ABC News’ Justin Gomez and Lauren Peller contributed to this report.