BREAKING NEWS
Government Shutdown Imminent: Pfizer Deal Hangs in Balance
The federal government has shut down after the Senate failed to reach an agreement on two competing funding bills, leaving millions of Americans affected.
At 12:01 AM ET, the shutdown took effect, with non-essential government services and employees furloughed. The last government shutdown lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019.
The Trump administration has accused Democrats of causing the shutdown through their refusal to compromise on funding bills. However, some ethics experts have raised concerns that this statement may violate the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan politics.
The shutdown comes as a critical deadline looms for a deal with Pfizer over vaccine pricing. The two parties were set to meet today to discuss the agreement, but it is unclear if the shutdown will impact these negotiations.
As the situation develops, essential services such as air traffic control and law enforcement remain operational. However, many government agencies have been forced to cease non-essential activities.
This is a developing story, with updates expected throughout the day. The fate of the Pfizer deal and the duration of the shutdown remain uncertain.
Stay tuned for further updates as this situation continues to unfold.
*This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*
