The shutdown messaging fight was in full swing Wednesday, as federal agencies ceased operations after funding lapsed at midnight and both parties sought to cast each other as responsible.

The shutdown, which will force hundreds of thousands of federal workers off the job and requires others to work without pay until lawmakers vote to resume appropriations for federal agencies, comes over a year before the midterm elections and prompted quite the blame game in Washington.

“The blame for this reckless decision and the harm it will cause working families rests squarely with the Democrats, and it will cost them their seats next November,” North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, the chair of House Republicans’ campaign arm, said in a statement.

His Democratic counterpart, Washington Rep. Suzan

See Full Page