As the clock struck midnight on Tuesday, the U.S. government officially entered a shutdown, the first full closure since 2013, after Congress failed to pass appropriations bills for the new fiscal year beginning October 1. This dramatic halt in federal operations came despite last-minute negotiations and public openness from President Donald Trump to strike a deal.

Earlier, Trump had suggested he was willing to negotiate the extension of health care subsidies, a key Democratic demand, in exchange for their support on a funding bill. However, discussions soured after Trump's controversial social media posts targeting Democratic leaders, complicating the already tense atmosphere.

The impasse has led the Office of Management and Budget to direct federal agencies to cease operations, affecting an estimated 750,000 federal employees who now face furloughs. Trump, undeterred, hinted at using the shutdown to reshape the federal bureaucracy to align more closely with his administration's priorities.

Heightening the standoff, Trump posted a manipulated video of Democratic leaders, which was criticized as an inflammatory move that further distanced the possibility of a compromise. Despite potential political fallout, Trump dismissed concerns in a POLITICO interview, accusing Democrats of being "deranged."

In Congress, the divide deepened as Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, both Republicans, insisted on funding the government before any discussion on health care subsidies. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized the urgency of addressing the health care crisis, indicating Democrats' readiness to negotiate a solution that includes their demands.

No new talks have been scheduled, and with each party holding their ground, the path to resolving the shutdown remains unclear. As federal workers brace for an uncertain future, the nation watches closely, hoping for a swift resolution to a standoff that could have lasting impacts on millions of Americans.