The U.S. government shut down just after midnight on Wednesday, hours after Congress failed to pass stopgap funding bills.

Republicans and Democrats refused to budge from their opposing positions on a funding deal to avoid a shutdown.

Follow CNBC's live blog for government shutdown updates .

A key sticking point was Democrats' insistence on including the extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits in any stopgap funding bill.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought sent a memo to the heads of executive departments and agencies on Tuesday night instructing them to "execute their plans for an orderly shutdown."

"Democrats Have Shutdown the Government," a White House webpage said, featuring a clock detailing the time that has passed since the shutdo

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