On Sep. 30, the Senate adjourned, making the possibility of a government shutdown all but a certainty. President Donald Trump has been placing all the blame on the Democrats as the GOP refuses to negotiate what Democrats describe as “unreasonable” cuts to the Affordable Care Act. It’s as good a time as any to revisit how things got here — and what it means now that the lights are off at the federal level.
First things first, more than 2 million federal employees will be affected. For the duration of the shutdown, they will reportedly not be paid. However, essential federal employees such as TSA staff and air traffic controllers are still expected to keep working with no pay. Access to public parks and museums will also be limited. When the government reopens, federal employees will be compensated for the lost time — but this protection will not extend to federal contractors.
