The impact of the shutdown that began at midnight Friday has been limited so far. Pic/AFP

US lawmakers were to launch a last-ditch bid yesterday to end a budget impasse before hundreds of thousands of federal workers are forced to start the workweek with no pay. The impact of the shutdown that began at midnight Friday has been largely limited so far, closing sites like New York's Statue of Liberty, but the effect will be acute if the stalemate runs into Monday.