This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46739180
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| #ShutdownStories: The impact of the government shutdown | #ShutdownStories: The impact of the government shutdown |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| On 12 January, the ongoing partial shutdown of the US government will become the longest in history. President Donald Trump still insists the government will stay closed for "as long as it takes" to get congressional funding for his proposed border wall. | |
| The shutdown, which began on 22 December, has ended funding for about 25% of the federal government, leaving 800,000 employees to bear the burden of no pay. This week, those workers missed their first paycheque. | |
| As agencies nationwide have dropped all non-essential work, the consequences are wider-reaching than just quiet Washington DC streets and shuttered museums. | As agencies nationwide have dropped all non-essential work, the consequences are wider-reaching than just quiet Washington DC streets and shuttered museums. |
| Amid food safety and air travel concerns, families of the US Coast Guard were offered guidance on getting through the shutdown, including: "Have a garage sale". | |
| Coast Guard gets furlough 'tip sheet' | |
| Around 8,500 Coast Guard civilian employees were offered a "managing your finances during a furlough" tip sheet, the Washington Post reported. | |
| Among the suggestions to "get lean" with spending and supplementing income were babysitting, selling furniture or unwanted items, monetising hobbies or picking up tutoring. | |
| The guidance also stated that "bankruptcy is a last option". | |
| Some 2,100 Coast Guard personnel have been covering essential duties unpaid since the shutdown began. | |
| The guard falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, unlike other military operations which are funded through the Department of Defence. | |
| In addition to pay, these employees are missing federal housing subsidies that help offset their expensive coastal housing, according to the Post. | |
| The tip sheet has since been taken offline for not reflecting the department's "current efforts to support our workforce". | |
| Hardship for workers without pay | |
| Nine departments have been affected by the shutdown, including Homeland Security, Justice, Housing, Agriculture, Commerce, Interior, and the Treasury. | |
| Most federal workers are furloughed - that is, temporarily laid off due to lack of funds - but those deemed essential are now working without pay. | |
| Many hope they will receive back pay when the government resumes, but that remains uncertain and is not an option for any contracted workers. | |
| Over the past 20 days, federal employees have taken to social media to express their frustrations with the hashtag #ShutdownStories. | |
| Food safety fears | |
| The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended all non-essential work, causing nationwide concerns over unsafe food as most inspections have stopped. | |
| FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Wednesday said the agency was working to "expand the scope" of inspections to ensure "high risk" facility checks continue. | |
| He said about one third of the FDA's food inspections are considered high risk, looking at goods like cheese, fresh produce and seafood. | |
| "It's not business as usual, and we are not doing all the things we would do under normal circumstances," Mr Gottlieb told NBC News. | |
| Upping safety checks means bringing back 10% of inspectors to work without pay, he noted. | |
| 'Blue-flu' sparks flight safety concerns | 'Blue-flu' sparks flight safety concerns |
| Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, who have been working without pay, are reportedly calling in sick, sparking concerns that travellers will face long security lines and airports may be too short-staffed to keep up safety standards. | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, who have been working without pay, are reportedly calling in sick, sparking concerns that travellers will face long security lines and airports may be too short-staffed to keep up safety standards. |
| CNN reported hundreds of officers had taken sick leave last week at several major airports in a wave of "blue-flu", named for the blue uniforms they wear. | CNN reported hundreds of officers had taken sick leave last week at several major airports in a wave of "blue-flu", named for the blue uniforms they wear. |
| TSA denied any cause for concern in a statement, saying that while call-outs have increased, they are "causing minimal impact" and security has not been compromised. | TSA denied any cause for concern in a statement, saying that while call-outs have increased, they are "causing minimal impact" and security has not been compromised. |
| And now, some officers are outright quitting, union officials say. | |
| Flight traffic controllers are also feeling the effects of the shutdown - especially with record low numbers of fully-certified staff to handle over 43,000 daily flights. | Flight traffic controllers are also feeling the effects of the shutdown - especially with record low numbers of fully-certified staff to handle over 43,000 daily flights. |
| Many have been working long shifts without pay, new technology has gone unimplemented and training programmes for much needed new hires have been put on hold. | Many have been working long shifts without pay, new technology has gone unimplemented and training programmes for much needed new hires have been put on hold. |
| Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a public letter to Congress that the furloughs "make an already complicated job even more difficult". | Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a public letter to Congress that the furloughs "make an already complicated job even more difficult". |
| "Right now, we are asking our controllers to maintain the safety and efficiency of the system without the necessary contribution of 3,000 safety professionals." | "Right now, we are asking our controllers to maintain the safety and efficiency of the system without the necessary contribution of 3,000 safety professionals." |
| Parks struggle to stay open | Parks struggle to stay open |
| Faced with deteriorating and increasingly hazardous conditions, The National Park Service announced it will begin using funds from visitor fees to operate some landmarks. | |
| Deputy director P Daniel Smith said in a statement to US media: "It has become clear that highly visited parks with limited staff have urgent needs that cannot be addressed solely through the generosity of our partners." | Deputy director P Daniel Smith said in a statement to US media: "It has become clear that highly visited parks with limited staff have urgent needs that cannot be addressed solely through the generosity of our partners." |
| The rare move could face legal issues, however, as the fees are meant to be used for larger-scale projects, not daily maintenance, the Associated Press reported. | The rare move could face legal issues, however, as the fees are meant to be used for larger-scale projects, not daily maintenance, the Associated Press reported. |
| Theresa Pierno, head of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement that dipping into these funds "will dig our parks into an even bigger financial hole". | Theresa Pierno, head of the National Parks Conservation Association, said in a statement that dipping into these funds "will dig our parks into an even bigger financial hole". |
| "National parks were already struggling before this government shutdown," Ms Pierno noted, adding that the administration was "robbing money" to keep parks open during the shutdown. | "National parks were already struggling before this government shutdown," Ms Pierno noted, adding that the administration was "robbing money" to keep parks open during the shutdown. |
| Most parks, especially ones that do not collect fees, will still have no services like public toilets, waste pickup, road maintenance and support centres. | Most parks, especially ones that do not collect fees, will still have no services like public toilets, waste pickup, road maintenance and support centres. |
| National parks have typically been closed under prior government shutdowns. | National parks have typically been closed under prior government shutdowns. |
| While volunteers banded together in the last two weeks to help clean park grounds nationwide, many remain hazardous due to waste and unsafe roads. | While volunteers banded together in the last two weeks to help clean park grounds nationwide, many remain hazardous due to waste and unsafe roads. |
| In Joshua Tree, with ranger numbers down to just eight, vandals have cut down trees and used protected lands as campsites. | |
| But the biggest concern with keeping parks open on a skeleton staff is a seriously stunted response to emergencies. | But the biggest concern with keeping parks open on a skeleton staff is a seriously stunted response to emergencies. |
| At least seven people have died in national parks since the shutdown, the Washington Post reported. | At least seven people have died in national parks since the shutdown, the Washington Post reported. |
| On an administrative level, the parks are also facing issues. | |
| One couple told CBS News they received a vague email informing them their June wedding reservation in the Great Smoky Mountains park had been cancelled "due to administration". | |
| Hurricane prep takes a hit | |
| Following a brutal hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been forced to delay next year's preparations. | |
| Forecast model updates, emergency trainings, and field experiments have all been halted. | |
| "People keep saying it doesn't matter because hurricane season is so far away - dead wrong," National Hurricane Center scientist Eric Blake tweeted. | |
| NYC funds to keep Statue of Liberty open | NYC funds to keep Statue of Liberty open |
| Without federal employees to keep national landmarks clean, cities have had to use their own funds. | Without federal employees to keep national landmarks clean, cities have had to use their own funds. |
| Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has been using the district's local resources to keep the capital clean at a cost of $46,000 (£36,500) per week. | Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has been using the district's local resources to keep the capital clean at a cost of $46,000 (£36,500) per week. |
| In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo has committed to paying $65,000 a day to ensure the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island stay rubbish-free and open for tourists. | In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo has committed to paying $65,000 a day to ensure the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island stay rubbish-free and open for tourists. |
| Utah town gone quiet | Utah town gone quiet |
| Across the country, small towns built around federal institutions are bracing for long-term effects thanks to the shutdown. | Across the country, small towns built around federal institutions are bracing for long-term effects thanks to the shutdown. |
| In Ogden, Utah, restaurants and small businesses have slashed hours after losing the patronage of thousands of federal employees in the area, the Washington Post reported. | In Ogden, Utah, restaurants and small businesses have slashed hours after losing the patronage of thousands of federal employees in the area, the Washington Post reported. |
| Science setbacks | Science setbacks |
| As many federally employed scientists stop working at agencies like the National Science Foundation, labs across the country are facing repercussions. | As many federally employed scientists stop working at agencies like the National Science Foundation, labs across the country are facing repercussions. |
| Researchers are concerned about their ability to access federal data and getting in touch with grant officials about project funding. | Researchers are concerned about their ability to access federal data and getting in touch with grant officials about project funding. |
| Rush Holt, head of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, said in a statement the shutdown "can disrupt or delay research projects, lead to uncertainty over new research, and reduce researcher access to agency data and infrastructure". | Rush Holt, head of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, said in a statement the shutdown "can disrupt or delay research projects, lead to uncertainty over new research, and reduce researcher access to agency data and infrastructure". |
| One woman, who requested to be kept anonymous, told the BBC her husband had been conducting cancer drug trials which could now see delays as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees responsible for approvals are furloughed. | One woman, who requested to be kept anonymous, told the BBC her husband had been conducting cancer drug trials which could now see delays as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) employees responsible for approvals are furloughed. |
| "As this shutdown drags on, their cancer continues to grow and spread," she said of the trial participants. "Timing can literally be life or death." | "As this shutdown drags on, their cancer continues to grow and spread," she said of the trial participants. "Timing can literally be life or death." |
| Hundreds of Nasa (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) staff will also be absent from US astronomy's biggest conference this year, unable to present their findings due to the lack of funding. | Hundreds of Nasa (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) staff will also be absent from US astronomy's biggest conference this year, unable to present their findings due to the lack of funding. |
| And on 8 January, parts of the Hubble Space Telescope stopped working, the journal Nature reported. The decades-old instrument will probably remain broken through the shutdown as key Nasa employees are furloughed. | And on 8 January, parts of the Hubble Space Telescope stopped working, the journal Nature reported. The decades-old instrument will probably remain broken through the shutdown as key Nasa employees are furloughed. |
| Smithsonian shuttered | Smithsonian shuttered |
| DC tourists have been shut out of all the popular Smithsonian museums since the shutdown as well as the Gallery of Art and Arboretum. | DC tourists have been shut out of all the popular Smithsonian museums since the shutdown as well as the Gallery of Art and Arboretum. |
| Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St Thomas told the BBC an estimated 1.2 million visitors will be turned away if the shutdown continues through January. She noted two thirds of Smithsonian employees are now furloughed. | Smithsonian spokeswoman Linda St Thomas told the BBC an estimated 1.2 million visitors will be turned away if the shutdown continues through January. She noted two thirds of Smithsonian employees are now furloughed. |
| Thanks to an earlier appropriations bill, the US Botanic Garden and Capitol Building are still open. So are nonfederal museums, with some - like the Woodrow Wilson House - offering free admission to federal workers. | Thanks to an earlier appropriations bill, the US Botanic Garden and Capitol Building are still open. So are nonfederal museums, with some - like the Woodrow Wilson House - offering free admission to federal workers. |
| Native tribes hurting | Native tribes hurting |
| Native American tribes receive substantial federal funding for essential services like healthcare and food as part of a deal negotiated decades ago in exchange for Native lands. | Native American tribes receive substantial federal funding for essential services like healthcare and food as part of a deal negotiated decades ago in exchange for Native lands. |
| In Michigan, a Chippewa tribe has already been forced to use their own funds to pay some $100,000 (£79,400) to keep clinics and food pantries open, the New York Times reported. | In Michigan, a Chippewa tribe has already been forced to use their own funds to pay some $100,000 (£79,400) to keep clinics and food pantries open, the New York Times reported. |
| Similar stories have cropped up across the country. Some Navajo tribes in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah are trapped in their homes without access to groceries and medicine due to unploughed roads. | Similar stories have cropped up across the country. Some Navajo tribes in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah are trapped in their homes without access to groceries and medicine due to unploughed roads. |
| In Minnesota, police officers on the Boise Forte Indian Reservation are already working without pay. | In Minnesota, police officers on the Boise Forte Indian Reservation are already working without pay. |
| Farm finance troubles | Farm finance troubles |
| With the Department of Agriculture unfunded, farmers across the country are facing troubles applying for federal assistance. | With the Department of Agriculture unfunded, farmers across the country are facing troubles applying for federal assistance. |
| Farmers were promised aid as President Trump's trade war with China continues, but the offices handling applications has been closed since 28 December. | Farmers were promised aid as President Trump's trade war with China continues, but the offices handling applications has been closed since 28 December. |
| Federal loan applications and information sites for farmers are also going unmaintained. | Federal loan applications and information sites for farmers are also going unmaintained. |
| Government reports - including some supply and demand estimates farmers rely on - will also not be released on time, even if the shutdown ends soon. | Government reports - including some supply and demand estimates farmers rely on - will also not be released on time, even if the shutdown ends soon. |
| E-verify down | E-verify down |
| Operated by the Department of Homeland Security, the E-verify programme allows employers to confirm that potential hires are able to work legally in the US. | Operated by the Department of Homeland Security, the E-verify programme allows employers to confirm that potential hires are able to work legally in the US. |
| It has been offline since 22 December, which could make it easier for illegal immigrants to get jobs if employers bypass verification. | It has been offline since 22 December, which could make it easier for illegal immigrants to get jobs if employers bypass verification. |
| Prison guards unhappy as inmates feast | Prison guards unhappy as inmates feast |
| Thanks to meals scheduled prior to the shutdown, federal inmates have been feasting on holiday treats like grilled steak, biscuits and pies. | Thanks to meals scheduled prior to the shutdown, federal inmates have been feasting on holiday treats like grilled steak, biscuits and pies. |
| Their guards, meanwhile, have been working through the holidays without pay. | Their guards, meanwhile, have been working through the holidays without pay. |
| "You are seeing prisoners getting steak, roast beef and Cornish hens, and you can't put that kind of food on the table for your own family," Eric Young, president of the national prison workers union, told USA Today. | "You are seeing prisoners getting steak, roast beef and Cornish hens, and you can't put that kind of food on the table for your own family," Eric Young, president of the national prison workers union, told USA Today. |
| Unsurprisingly, tensions are high between staff and prisoners. | Unsurprisingly, tensions are high between staff and prisoners. |
| "The inmates know what's going on, they know about the shutdown, and they are laughing at us," one prison chief told the paper. | "The inmates know what's going on, they know about the shutdown, and they are laughing at us," one prison chief told the paper. |
| Crisis centre on verge of closure | Crisis centre on verge of closure |
| Pathways to Safety International, an organisation that assists US Citizens overseas who have been victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, says it will have to close on 13 January if the government shutdown doesn't end by then. | Pathways to Safety International, an organisation that assists US Citizens overseas who have been victim of sexual assault or domestic violence, says it will have to close on 13 January if the government shutdown doesn't end by then. |
| The organisation's funding comes through the US Department of Justice. That money ran out on the 6 January. Employees have volunteered to work for a week for free but after that operations will be suspended. | The organisation's funding comes through the US Department of Justice. That money ran out on the 6 January. Employees have volunteered to work for a week for free but after that operations will be suspended. |
| Executive Director Paula Lucas told the BBC that it would cause "an emergency situation for Americans stranded abroad without critical services." | Executive Director Paula Lucas told the BBC that it would cause "an emergency situation for Americans stranded abroad without critical services." |
| Funds almost out for federal courts | Funds almost out for federal courts |
| The Administrative Office of the US Courts says it has enough funding to operate until 11 January, at which point all non-essential staff at 94 federal district courts and other top courts nationwide will join the furloughed. | The Administrative Office of the US Courts says it has enough funding to operate until 11 January, at which point all non-essential staff at 94 federal district courts and other top courts nationwide will join the furloughed. |
| This could mean civil cases are suspended, and hearings and filings are rescheduled, Bloomberg reported. | This could mean civil cases are suspended, and hearings and filings are rescheduled, Bloomberg reported. |
| Criminal cases will be prioritised, but with courts operating on minimum staffing, there could still be delays in proceedings. | Criminal cases will be prioritised, but with courts operating on minimum staffing, there could still be delays in proceedings. |
| 'Unofficial' marriages in December | 'Unofficial' marriages in December |
| The shutdown has also left its mark on some late December weddings in Washington DC. | The shutdown has also left its mark on some late December weddings in Washington DC. |
| One couple tweeted that their marriage was unofficial since marriage bureau staff in the capital were furloughed during their wedding ceremony. | One couple tweeted that their marriage was unofficial since marriage bureau staff in the capital were furloughed during their wedding ceremony. |
| On 8 January, the DC council passed emergency legislation to allow the mayor to issue marriage licenses in lieu of the shuttered clerk of the court. | On 8 January, the DC council passed emergency legislation to allow the mayor to issue marriage licenses in lieu of the shuttered clerk of the court. |
| Are you a federal employee or contractor affected by the government shutdown? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a federal employee or contractor affected by the government shutdown? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |