House Republicans demand defunding of Affordable Care Act triggering 16-day shutdown

At 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 1, 2013, the federal government shuts down as the Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate deadlock over spending legislation. Congressional Republicans, encouraged by conservative senators including Ted Cruz of Texas and groups like Heritage Action, seek to delay implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed in 2010. President Obama and Democratic senators refuse to condition government funding on defunding or delaying the ACA. House Speaker John Boehner tries to use the appropriations process to force Democrats to remove ACA provisions, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Democrats unite in opposition. Obama warns that Republicans are trying to overturn a law through the budget process instead of the legislative process. The impasse affects approximately 800,000 federal workers and disrupts major government programs.