VT Staff, Washington D.C. — The White House’s Office of Management and Budget on Tuesday directed federal agencies to begin shutting down nonessential operations, minutes after the Senate rejected dueling stopgap funding bills. The move makes a lapse in funding at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, all but certain.
In a memo posted on X, OMB said “affected agencies should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown,” adding that employees should report for their next scheduled shift to carry out wind-down activities. The memo said President Donald Trump supports the House-passed stopgap but that Democrats would prevent its passage in the Senate before the 11:59 p.m. deadline, making the duration of the shutdown “difficult to predict.” According to the memo, appropriations under current law expire at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
The Senate late Tuesday failed to advance the House’s seven-week continuing resolution in a 55–45 vote, shy of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster. A Democratic alternative also fell short, leaving no practical path to keep the government open before the deadline, according to the Associated Press and other outlets tracking the votes.
The House measure—H.R. 5371—would extend funding through Nov. 21. It passed the House on Sept. 19 and was billed by Republican leaders as a “clean” continuing resolution. Congress.gov lists the bill’s end date and status. 
With the Senate stalemated and the House out of session until early next week, agencies are implementing contingency plans that furlough hundreds of thousands of employees while essential services continue. The White House had already warned agencies to prepare as negotiations faltered. Fox News reported that OMB told departments funding would “expire at 11:59 p.m. tonight.” 
This would be the first federal shutdown in almost seven years, unless a last-minute compromise comes through and gets both chambers to agree. The immediate repercussions are expected to include civilian agencies being on furlough, grants and inspections being put on hold, and services being delayed. However, functions that are considered critical, such air traffic control and national security, will continue.
This is a developing story.
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