A US government shutdown has begun after a last-ditch Senate vote failed to pass a stopgap measure to keep funding flowing. Anvitii Rai explains what will be the impact within and outside the US, and why a seemingly impossible bipartisan resolution is the unlikely but only way forward

l How did the US get here?

US FEDERAL SPENDING is governed by 12 Appropriation Bills, each covering a major area of government such as labour, defence, and agriculture (similar to India’s ministries). In both the House and Senate, these Bills are handled by sub-committees under the Appropriations Committees, composed of members from both parties. Each sub-committee must draft its Bill annually based on the President’s budget proposal and secure approval from the full committee, the House, and the Senate.

See Full Page