Source: Al Drago / Getty The federal government is officially shut down as of Wednesday morning at 12:01 am EST after Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a vote for appropriations to finance the daily operation of America's administrative entity. According to AB CNews, a Democrat-led healthcare subsidies bill aimed at extending Obamacare to more Americans and reversing the cuts made to Medicaid failed to reach the number of passing votes. Republicans put forth a stopgap bill to continue funding the government for seven more weeks failed as a political consequence.