The United States government has entered its first shutdown since 2019, after Congress failed to approve a stopgap spending deal before the midnight deadline. At the heart of the deadlock is a bitter clash between President Donald Trump and Democrats over healthcare funding, with both sides refusing to yield ground. The shutdown, which began early Wednesday, will furlough an estimated 750,000 federal employees and halt or disrupt a wide range of government services. Unlike previous shutdowns, however, the Trump administration appears not only prepared for an extended standoff but is openly threatening to make many of the temporary job losses permanent. Also read: How US govt shutdown is impacting millions In the past, shutdowns have been politically damaging for both parties, b

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