What does a government shutdown mean and why is this year’s threat more serious?

The US government has shut down because Congress couldn’t reach a funding agreement. Here’s what to know about what happens next

  • US government shutdown – live updates

Much of the federal government officially began to shut down on Wednesday, after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement before the midnight deadline. The shutdown will have a wide range of effects on government services and potentially the US economy.

Republicans put forward a stopgap...

‘Pro-worker priorities’? Trump’s budget offers the exact opposite | Steven Greenhouse

The ‘big, beautiful’ measure going through Congress would cut health, food and education benefits – and offer a huge boost to the richest

With Donald Trump pushing hard to give big tax cuts to the rich and do huge favors for crypto billionaires, it was jarring to see a photo of a Trump aide carrying a sign that said: “President Trump’s Pro-Worker Priorities”. The aide was about to place the sign on Trump’s lectern; it mentioned such “pro-worker priorities” as ending federal taxes on ...

US health groups vow to fight GOP cuts to Medicaid and Obamacare

Cuts worth $880bn could leave 13 million Americans without insurance in proposal that has divided Republicans

US advocacy groups are waging an intensive campaign to protect Medicaid and Obamacare from Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”, after House Republicans proposed an $880bn cut that could leave an estimated 13 million Americans without health insurance.

The House bill left Republicans’ most controversial proposals on the table, but has divided Senate Republicans: one cal...

The US government could shut down: here’s what you need to know

As a divided Congress and Democrats spar over a funding bill, here’s what to expect from a government shutdown

The US stands hours away from a partial government shutdown as Democrats decide whether to play ball with Republicans on the first major legislative hurdle in Trump’s second administration.

The House approved a stopgap funding measure called a continuing resolution last week, and the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, has urged Democrats in the Senate to pass the m...

The looming budget question: Will Medicaid cuts fund tax cuts?

The challenge of restoring fiscal responsibility will be on full display in the months ahead following the passage of the House of Representatives budget resolution for the 2025 fiscal year on Feb. 25.  

It set the stage for legislation that can circumvent the Senate’s 60-vote threshold and pass with a simple majority. While it does not include specific changes to spending and taxes, it specifies which House committees should finance deficits in reconci...