A vote to end the government shutdown hours after it began failed Wednesday, as Democrats in the Senate held firm to the party’s demands to fund health care subsidies that President Donald Trump and Republicans refuse to provide.

The tally showed cracks in the Democrats' resolve but offered no breakthrough.

Blame was being cast on all sides on the first day of the shutdown.

The White House and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep programs and services open, throwing the country into a new cycle of uncertainty.

Roughly 750,000 federal workers were expected to be furloughed, with some potentially fired by Trump's Republican administration.

Many offices will be shuttered, perhaps permanently, as the president vows to "do things that are irreversible" to punish Democrats.

Trump's deportation agenda is expected to run full speed ahead, while education, environmental and other services sputter. The economic fallout is expected to ripple nationwide.

“I certainly pray they will come to their senses,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said, flanked by GOP leaders at a Capitol news conference

Republicans at the Capitol recounted Democratic lawmakers’ warnings over the years about the damage government shutdowns cause.

“They always said that shutting the government down would be dangerous, destructive, selfish, and irresponsible,” Johnson said. “And suddenly, now they’ve changed their tune. Don’t buy it. The American people are not buying it.”

Republicans used the news conference to try to put pressure on Democrats to pass a short-term spending bill that generally funds the government at current levels for a few more weeks.

GOP leaders launched the first morning of the shutdown by branding it “The Democrats Shutdown,” during the press conference, as both parties scrambled to control the narrative.

“At midnight, Democrats followed through on their threat to shut down the American government,” said Speaker Johnson, standing next to Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

Democrats are demanding funding for health care subsidies that are expiring for millions of people under the Affordable Care Act, causing the insurance premiums to spike nationwide.

Republicans have refused to negotiate and have encouraged Trump to steer clear of any talks.

After convening a White House meeting this week with the Democratic leaders, the president posted a cartoonish fake video mocking the Democratic leadership that was widely viewed as unserious and racist.

Vice President JD Vance said Republicans want to resolve the health care issues that concern Democrats but will not negotiate until the government reopens.