India, Oct. 1 -- The United States government is heading for a shutdown at 12:01 p.m. on Wednesday, with efforts to pass a bill to keep the government funded failing to reach an agreement between the Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. With a last-ditch attempt at a vote on a stopgap funding bill failing with a 55-45 vote count, now a shutdown looks inevitable.

The shutdown comes after a disagreement between the Republicans and the Democrats over the Medicaid cuts in Trump's new funding bill, dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill.' Democrats want a reversal of the Medicaid cuts and an extension of the tax credit on health insurance premiums, making them more affordable. But the Republicans have been refusing to relent.

The stalemate takes...