US gov't shuts down again after Senate rejects funding plans

China

US gov't shuts down again after Senate rejects funding plans

2025-10-01 13:06 Last Updated At：23:57

The U.S. federal government entered a shutdown at the start of Wednesday, a few hours after the U.S. Senate failed to pass a short-term spending bill on Tuesday night.

This marks the first government shutdown in nearly seven years. The last and also the longest federal government shutdown occurred from late 2018 to early 2019 during Trump's first term. Democrats opposed Trump's proposed funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall, and the two parties' disputes over immigration led to a 35-day shutdown, during which some 800,000 federal employees were forced to work without pay or take unpaid leave.

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be forced to take unpaid leave this time too, with some public services potentially suspended or delayed, and the release of economic data possibly impacted as well.

Senate Democrats on Tuesday evening blocked a continuing resolution proposed by Republicans to temporarily keep the government running. The measure didn't gain enough support, falling short of the 60 votes required for passage.

In the latest negotiations, healthcare benefits have been one of the core sticking points between the two parties. Democrats are demanding stronger healthcare-related benefits, including an extension of the enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act set to expire at the end of the year, as well as restoring the act's coverage eligibility for certain immigrants who are legally present, including refugees and asylum seekers.

Republicans, on the other hand, opposed these measures and have been pushing to temporarily maintain current government funding levels to allow more time for negotiations.

Earlier in the day, Republicans and Democrats continued to trade blame, accusing each other of forcing the government into a "shutdown."

The operating funds for the U.S. federal government are supposed to come from annual budget appropriations. Congress from both parties is normally expected to pass new annual appropriations bills before the start of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1. However, in recent years, intense partisan battles have often prevented timely agreement.

According to U.S. media reports, the Senate Republicans are planning to hold another vote on the bill on Wednesday.　

China ready to work for steady, sound ties with Canada: FM

China is willing to strengthen communication, enhance trust, eliminate interference, and deepen cooperation with Canada to bring bilateral relations forward on a steady and sound track in solid strides under the new circumstances, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Beijing on the day.

Referring to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to China, the first by a Canadian prime minister in eight years, Wang said the trip marks a milestone in bilateral ties and signals a turning point in the relationship.

The leaders of the two countries will hold meetings and talks, which are expected to open up new prospects for bilateral relations, said Wang.

The world today is undergoing profound and complex changes, and the impact of China-Canada relations transcends the bilateral scope, Wang noted.

Wang said that China and Canada have different social systems, stemming from different historical and cultural heritage, and based on the choices of their respective people.

He urged both sides to view each other in a rational and amicable manner with an inclusive mindset, handle issues on the basis of mutual respect, focus on the agenda of cooperation, and send positive messages so as to foster optimism, inject greater confidence into the development of bilateral relations, and jointly build a new type of strategic partnership between China and Canada.

Anand said the new Canadian government attaches great importance to relations with China. She also added that Prime Minister Carney looks forward to engaging in in-depth exchanges with Chinese leaders during the visit to set the course for the development of bilateral relations, resume dialogue in various fields, pursue more mutually beneficial outcomes, enhance coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs, and further advance the strategic partnership between the two countries.