According to USAToday, on Oct. 1st at 12 a.m. EST, the U.S government officially shut down due to Congress failing to reach a funding agreement.
As of now, the government has been shut down for approximately 8 days and 7 hours due to the Senate rejecting Democratic and Republican plans to reopen government. USAToday stated this is because President Donald Trump said he could “block federal workers from receiving back pay once the shutdown is over, while threatening to fire federal workers and cut government programs if the shutdown continues”.
Though Republicans control both chambers of Congress, they were short of the 60 votes needed to pass the spending bill because Democrats wanted Trump to reverse his cuts to Medicaid, they wanted an extension to expiring tax credits, and they opposed to the spending cuts on government healthcare (BBC News).
This is the 15th government shutdown since 1981, but what exactly happens during a shutdown and what does it mean for Americans? Many U.S government services are temporarily suspended and 40% of federal workers, which is about 750,000 people, are on unpaid leave (BBC News), while some federal workers are forced to work without pay.
Border protection, law enforcement, and ICE services are still operating, however many flights are being delayed due to a shortage of flight staff and air traffic controllers.
The food assistance program and federally funded pre-schools and institutions have been closed, and benefit verification and card issuance may stop for social security and Medicare (BBC News).
Schools will not be affected, but as the shutdown continues more issues will occur if the Republicans cannot come to an agreement with the Democrats.
