CHICAGO - The United States began its first federal government shutdown in almost seven years last night as Democrats and Republicans reached a funding stalemate.

Congress failed to pass government funding legislation Tuesday night, triggering temporary closures of many federal offices nationwide and forcing furloughs for nonexempt employees, further straining workers and the U.S. economy.

On Wednesday, Democratic Illinois lawmakers chimed in on the shutdown, casting blame on Republicans and the Trump administration.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker

Pritzker has not yet released an official statement on the shutdown but summed up his feelings with two posts on X.

The post read: "Let’s be clear: Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans forced a government shutdown tonight.

Rather than

See Full Page