President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress allowed the government to shut down on Tuesday instead of negotiating a budget for Fiscal Year 2026. 

Most civil servants will be barred from working or required to work without pay until a budget is passed and the government reopens. 

The administration attempted to place blame for the shutdown on Democrats in Congress, who are pushing to preserve affordable health care. The Trump administration responded by threatening another round of short-sighted and destructive mass firings if the government shuts down. 

Following the government shutdown, the BlueGreen Alliance released a statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh: 

“Republicans are in charge of the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and the presidency. It is clear that President Trump and the Republican-led Congress forced this government shutdown. Thousands of civil servants will be furloughed, essential services will be unavailable, and federal workers face the threat of mass firings. All because the GOP couldn’t—or deliberately chose not to— engage in meaningful negotiation to pass a bill that requires Democratic votes and were unwilling to compromise in any way to save health care coverage for Americans.”