The shutdown began at midnight EDT [Eastern daylight time (0400 UTC, 5 a.m. in London, 7 a.m. in Eastern Europe)] after lawmakers could not agree on a plan to fund the government, the White House confirmed. As a result, federal agencies began sending workers home without pay. AdvertisementNational parks, food inspections, preschool programs, and processing of student loans are among the services expected to slow or stop. The White House Office of Management and Budget confirmed the shutdown in a late-night memo, blaming Democrats. This one comes after nine months of Trump steadily shrinking the federal workforce – and the White House appears prepared for a long fight.