The government shutdown has begun. And it’s plunging the U.S. into a fresh cycle of uncertainty. President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.

US congressional lawmakers have failed to agree on a spending package for the new fiscal year, triggering a federal government shutdown. That could mean significant travel disruptions for travelers in the US and for visitors from overseas.

Ahead of Wednesday's government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday posted a banner in large type on its homepage blaming the shutdown on the "Radical Left," an allegation that an ethics group said was a "blatant violation" of the Hatch Act.

The U.S. Senate adjourned Tuesday without reaching a deal on extending federal funding, meaning a federal government shutdown is expected to begin at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

The standoff is drawing national attention, raising questions about fiscal priorities, governance, and the fate of programs.

The federal government will shut down at midnight tonight unless Congress approves a federal spending bill. Follow live news updates.

The government shutdown means further disruption for the US Education Department, which has seen half of its employees laid off by the Trump administration.

During a government shutdown, all active-duty personnel, as well as National Guard who are currently deployed, must carry out their assigned duties with their pay delayed until the shutdown is over. Civilian personnel whose work the Defense Department considers essential,