White House says firings 'imminent' as plan to reopen government collapses

Federal funding expired at midnight after Trump and lawmakers failed to agree on a deal to keep the lights on, prompting agencies to wind down services, while the White House warned of "imminent" firings of public sector workers. "I think our government needs to learn how to work together for the people and find a way to make things not happen like this," said Terese Johnston, a 61-year-old retired tour guide visiting Washington from California as the government shut down. Democrats - spurred by grassroots anger over the expiring health care subsidies and Trump's dismantling of government agencies - have been withholding Senate votes to fund the government as leverage to try and force negotiations.