Democrats finally have some leverage in the shutdown fight. They should use it | Robert Reich

"The United States government is officially closed. Starting on Wednesday at 12.01am Washington time, the federal government ran out of money. Agencies and departments designed to protect consumers, workers and investors are now officially closed, as are national parks and museums. Most federal workers are not being paid as many as 750,000 could be furloughed including those who are required to remain on the job, like air-traffic controllers or members of the US military."

"So-called mandatory spending, including Social Security and Medicare payments, are continuing, although checks could be delayed. The construction of Trump's new White House ballroom won't be affected. Shutdowns are symptoms of a government off the rails. I've been directly involved in two, one when I was secretary of labor. It's hard for me to describe the fear, frustration and chaos that ensued. I recall spending the first day consoling employees many in tears as they headed out the door."

Federal operations halted after funding expired at 12:01am Washington time, closing many agencies, national parks and museums. Up to 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed or remain working without pay, including air-traffic controllers and military personnel. Mandatory spending such as Social Security and Medicare continues, though payments could face delays. Construction on the White House ballroom is exempt from the shutdown. There have been eight shutdowns since 1990, with this being the fourth during Trump's presidency. A July decision used Senate reconciliation to pass a major bill without Democratic votes, reshaping priorities and cutting roughly $1 trillion from healthcare programs.

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