US Federal Shutdown Triggered, But Likely to Be Brief

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 25, 2017. Reuters/Aaron P. Bernstein

WASHINGTON–The U.S. government staggered into another shutdown on Thursday night after an outspoken rogue Republican in the Senate singlehandedly delayed action by Congress on a stopgap funding bill wrapped up in a massive budget deal.

At midnight on Thursday, funding authority for most federal agencies expired without any intervening action by Congress.