US shutdown looms as Congress squabbles over federal budget

The US government is staring at the possibility of a partial shutdown that may disrupt all but essential services as a deeply polarised Congress has failed to strike a deal on a new federal budget, media reported on Monday. If Democrat and Republican lawmakers fail to find a solution before the deadline on the new plan to continue funding the government operations, the shutdown would come into force on Tuesday. While essential services would remain in place, nearly a million government employees will be forced off work without pay.