US govt partially shuts as Congress, Trump fail to reach deal

The U.S. Capitol stands illuminated at night in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. The federal government is on the brink of a partial shutdown starting Friday night with Congress at an impasse with President Donald Trump over his demands to fund a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Photographer: Zach Gibson/Bloomberg

WASHINGTON DC (AFP): The US government began a Christmas shutdown early Saturday (Dec 22), after Congress adjourned without passing a federal spending bill or addressing President Donald Trump’s demand for money to build a border wall.

Operations for several key agencies ceased at 12:01am Saturday (0501 GMT), despite last-ditch talks that continued on Capitol Hill between White House officials and congressional leaders in both parties.