WASHINGTON: The US government officially shut down on Saturday, the firstanniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, after lawmakersfailed to agree on a new budget.
Senators were still negotiating on the Senate floor as the clock turnedmidnight, but Trump’s office issued a statement blaming oppositionDemocrats for the crisis.
The last shutdown happened in 2013 and lasted for 16 days, during whichmany federal employees took a forced leave of absence.
Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the Democrats’ insistence that the interimmeasure include protection for undocumented immigrants who arrived aschildren killed the deal.
“Senate Democrats own the Schumer Shutdown,” she declared, referring to theminority leader, New York Senator Chuck Schumer, who met with Trump earlierFriday.
“Tonight, they put politics above our national security, military families,vulnerable children, and our country’s ability to serve all Americans.
“We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democratshold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands,” she warned.
US federal services and military operations deemed essential will continue,but thousands of government workers will be sent home without pay until thecrisis is resolved.
Hundreds of thousands of US government defense workers, park rangers andbusiness regulators could be temporarily out of work.
But the looming government shutdown due to lack of funding — which would bethe second in five years — does not mean every office closes its doors.
[image: US government shuts down]
Vital services will still be provided by law enforcement, immigrationofficers, the central bank, veterans’ hospitals and the military.
During the two-week shutdown in October 2013, around 800,000 workers werefurloughed.
This time, about 850,000 workers, out of a total 3.5 million, could be toldto stay home — without pay — until Congress reaches an agreement, theAmerican Federation of Government Employees estimates.
The following is a rundown of who is and isn’t affected in a governmentshutdown:
Defense, security and borders
The 1.5 million uniformed members of the US military, mostly in the DefenseDepartment but also 40,000 with the Department of Homeland Security, willremain at work.
“All military personnel performing active duty will continue in a normalduty status,” the Pentagon ordered Thursday.
But a large number of civilians in both departments, including aboutthree-fourths of the roughly 740,000 civilians who work for the Pentagon,will stay home.
That will slow many operations, and could impact the huge defense privatesector, which depends on Pentagon contracts.
Officials of the Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and CustomsEnforcement, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services will remain on thejob checking and processing people entering the country by land, sea andair.