"Much of the federal government is now shut down after Republicans and Democrats in the Senate failed to agree on a pair of dueling funding bills to keep the government open. Republicans voted to block a bill proposed by Democrats that included government funding through the end of October and an extension of federal healthcare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year."
"Shortly after the failed votes, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought instructed affected federal agencies to "execute their plans for an orderly shutdown." It is unclear exactly how far-reaching the impact of a shutdown will be or how long the suspensions of funding will last. Critical services, including Social Security, VA benefits and Medicare and Medicaid payments, will continue, but people who need those resources could face delays."
"President Donald Trump has also indicated he may take additional action to reshape the government. On Tuesday afternoon, he alluded to possibly carrying out mass firings of federal workers and eliminating programs in the event of a shutdown. "We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday."
The Senate failed to pass two competing funding measures, triggering a federal government shutdown. Republicans blocked a Democratic bill that would have funded the government through October and extended Affordable Care Act subsidies. Democrats refused a short-term House measure to fund operations through Nov. 21 without an ACA subsidy extension. The Office of Management and Budget instructed agencies to execute orderly shutdown plans. Critical services like Social Security, VA benefits, Medicare and Medicaid will continue, though delays are possible. The Congressional Budget Office estimates about 750,000 federal employees may be furloughed daily, and the president indicated potential mass firings and program eliminations.
Read at www.npr.org
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