Hundreds of thousands of federal employees will report to work this morning. Most will be sent home and no one knows when they’ll be back on the job. The first government shutdown in more than 17 years could put as many as a million workers on unpaid leave, as Republicans and Democrats in Congress continue trading blame and spending bills each side refuses to accept.
The government’s spending authority ended at midnight Eastern time, and federal agencies were ordered to cut services. When workers report this morning, only those whose jobs are deemed essential will keep working. Members of the military will stay on duty and be paid, as will Postal Service workers and the FAA & TSA and Social Security checks will still be paid. The last federal shutdown lasted 21 days, from late 1995 into early ’96.
