Federal Government Shutdown
operations and agencies, or when the President refuses to sign such bills or resolutions into
law. In such cases, the current interpretation of the Antideficiency Act requires that the
federal government begin a "shutdown" of the affected activities involving the temporary
leave of non-essential personnel and reduction of agency activities and services. Essential
employees are still required to work without pay until the government reopens, when they
may then receive back pay. These employees may include medical professionals in
the Veterans Hospitals and TSA agents.
Currently, the federal government has been on a shutdown since 22 nd December 2018 over
proposed funding for a US–Mexico border wall. This has become the longest in US history
on 12 January 2019 after surpassing the 21-day shutdown of 1995–1996. The deadlock
occurred when Trump sought to include $5.7 billion in funding for a border wall as part of
the US government's spending budget, but faced objections from Democrats over questions
on the effectiveness of the proposed wall and the amount required to fund it. A senate vote
on the proposed spending bill failed to secure a majority vote to pass it through to Congress.
As of 23 January 2019, this shutdown is in its thirty-second day. Approximately 420,000
federal workers were required to work without pay, while the remainder were given
temporary leave. The extended shutdown has raised considerable financial uncertainty for
federal workers. Polls show Americans want an end to the partial government shutdown as
it enters its 33rd day.
