The United States government has shut down after lawmakers and President Donald Trump failed to break a budget impasse during acrimonious talks that hinged on Democratic demands for health care funding.

The shutdown, which began at 12:01 am Wednesday, will stop work at multiple federal departments and agencies, impacting hundreds of thousands of government workers and millions of Americans who use the services they provide.

Trump threatened to punish Democrats and their voters by targeting progressive priorities and forcing mass public sector job cuts.

“So we’d be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected. And they’re Democrats, they’re going to be Democrats,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

He added that a “lot of good can come down from shutdowns,” and suggested he would use the pause to “get rid of a lot of things we didn’t want, and they’d be Democrat things.”

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer blamed Republicans for the shutdown, saying, “The Republican shutdown has just begun because Republicans wouldn’t protect America’s health care.” Schumer emphasized that Democrats will continue fighting for the American people.

The shutdown will not affect vital functions like the Postal Service, the military, and welfare programs like Social Security and food stamps. However, up to 750,000 workers could be sent home each day and would not be paid until the shutdown is over, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Schumer, asking, “How long will Chuck Schumer let this pain go on — for his own selfish reasons?” Johnson highlighted the consequences of the shutdown, including moms and kids losing WIC nutrition, veterans losing health care and suicide prevention programs, and FEMA facing shortfalls during hurricane season.

Former Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris attributed the shutdown to Republican control of the White House and Congress, stating, “This is their shutdown.” The disagreement stems from Democrats’ demands for hundreds of billions of dollars in health care spending, particularly in the Obamacare health insurance program for low-income households.