The government shutdown has begun. And it’s plunging the U.S. into a fresh cycle of uncertainty. President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline.

Open-air sites will remain open to the public, but buildings that require staffing, such as visitor centers or attractions like the Washington Monument, will be closed.

Democrats and Republicans clashed over enhanced ACA subsidies, and failed to reach a deal to fund the government.

The Environmental Protection Agency faces challenges during a government shutdown. The agency's mission to protect health and the environment is at risk without a federal budget.

Get live updates from Capitol Hill as Republicans and Democrats in Congress scramble to avoid a government shutdown.

History tells us visitors will likely find shuttered doors at major cultural institutions. But they will also find plenty of alternatives.

The U.S. Senate adjourned Tuesday without reaching a deal on extending federal funding, meaning a federal government shutdown is expected to begin at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

Republicans are attempting to keep pressure on Democrats, and away from their own party, as Washington lurches toward a politically risky government showdown. With just hours until federal funding expires at midnight on Wednesday,