What does a government shutdown mean and why is this year’s threat more serious?
The US government has shut down because Congress couldn't reach a funding agreement. Here's what to know about what happens next
Much of the federal government officially began to shut down on Wednesday, after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement before the midnight deadline. The shutdown will have a wide range of effects on government services and potentially the US economy.
Republicans put forward a stopgap measure to keep agencies open through 21 November, but Democrats have withheld their support, demanding the bill address recent Medicaid cuts and extend health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act scheduled to expire at the end of the year. Republican leaders dismissed their demands as a non-starter and united to block Democrats's short-term funding proposal.
Continue reading...