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US shutdown bites as federal workers miss payday | US shutdown bites as federal workers miss payday |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers have missed their first payday of the year as the partial shutdown of the US government bites deeper. | Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers have missed their first payday of the year as the partial shutdown of the US government bites deeper. |
Many workers, such as prison guards and airport staff, have been working without any guarantee of pay since the shutdown began on 22 December. | Many workers, such as prison guards and airport staff, have been working without any guarantee of pay since the shutdown began on 22 December. |
President Donald Trump is refusing to approve a federal budget unless it includes funding for a border wall. | President Donald Trump is refusing to approve a federal budget unless it includes funding for a border wall. |
But Democrats say the $5.7bn (£4.5bn) he wants would be a waste of money. | |
About a quarter of the federal government will go without funding until a budget is agreed, leaving 800,000 employees without pay. | About a quarter of the federal government will go without funding until a budget is agreed, leaving 800,000 employees without pay. |
What's the latest? | What's the latest? |
On Friday, government workers missed their first payday of this shutdown. Some shared their blank payslips on social media. | On Friday, government workers missed their first payday of this shutdown. Some shared their blank payslips on social media. |
Oscar Murillo, an aerospace engineer at Nasa, posted his $0 cheque on Twitter and said he had actually lost money because of mandatory deductions. | Oscar Murillo, an aerospace engineer at Nasa, posted his $0 cheque on Twitter and said he had actually lost money because of mandatory deductions. |
Another Twitter user, Cat Heifner, shared what she said was her brother's payslip which showed that he had been paid one cent for his work as an air traffic controller. | Another Twitter user, Cat Heifner, shared what she said was her brother's payslip which showed that he had been paid one cent for his work as an air traffic controller. |
Meanwhile, the classified advertising website Craigslist has been flooded with listings from federal workers trying to sell their possessions. | Meanwhile, the classified advertising website Craigslist has been flooded with listings from federal workers trying to sell their possessions. |
Items ranging from beds to old toys have been listed as "government shutdown specials". | Items ranging from beds to old toys have been listed as "government shutdown specials". |
"Sells for $93.88 at Walmart. Asking $10," one advert for a child's rocking chair reads. "We need money to pay bills." | "Sells for $93.88 at Walmart. Asking $10," one advert for a child's rocking chair reads. "We need money to pay bills." |
A food bank in Washington, DC reported an influx of federal workers. | |
Radha Muthiah, the head of Capital Area Food Bank, said that dozens of volunteers are working to pack bags of food for affected workers. | |
Of the 800,000 federal employees affected, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay-off - while the rest are continuing to work. | Of the 800,000 federal employees affected, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay-off - while the rest are continuing to work. |
There are reports that thousands of workers have filed for unemployment amid the financial uncertainty, while others are calling in sick. | There are reports that thousands of workers have filed for unemployment amid the financial uncertainty, while others are calling in sick. |
One major airport, Miami International, has said it will close an entire terminal this weekend because so many security staff are off sick. | One major airport, Miami International, has said it will close an entire terminal this weekend because so many security staff are off sick. |
What will happen next? | What will happen next? |
President Trump has been threatening to declare a national emergency, which would allow him to bypass Congress and build the wall by raiding military budgets. | |
But on Friday he stepped back from such a hugely controversial move, saying at the White House that he would not declare an emergency for now, preferring Capitol Hill to act. | |
Some US media reports suggest the White House is considering diverting some of the $13.9bn allocated last year by Congress for disaster relief in such areas as Puerto Rico, Texas and California to pay for the wall. | Some US media reports suggest the White House is considering diverting some of the $13.9bn allocated last year by Congress for disaster relief in such areas as Puerto Rico, Texas and California to pay for the wall. |
Analysts say declaring a national emergency would provide political cover to reopen government while allowing Mr Trump to argue he has done all he can to fulfil his campaign promise. | |