The US federal government has shut down for the first time in almost seven years after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a spending bill in the Senate.

The deadline to approve the funds for running the government expired on Wednesday, as both parties rejected each other’s spending plans in a back-to-back vote.

The Democrats refused to back the Republican bill while demanding an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, along with the reversal of Medicaid cuts. The GOP framed their plan as a “clean,” non-partisan solution, but the Democrats argued that it would endanger the healthcare of many Americans.

Both sides blamed each other for the crisis.

Senate Republican leader John Thune said, “far-left interest groups and far-left Democrat members wanted a showdown with the president.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the Republicans of “risking America’s healthcare” and refusing to negotiate in good faith.

The White House pointed the finger at the Democrats, with its website now featuring a clock marking the duration of the crisis and titled ‘Democrats Have Shut Down the Government’.

The Senate is set to vote on the GOP funding plan on Wednesday morning. The Republicans have vowed to put it up for a vote every day until their colleagues across the aisle yield to pressure.

Federal agencies will partially suspend services and many employees will be furloughed. The last government shutdown began on December 22, 2018 and lasted 35 days.

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