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| US shutdown bites as federal workers miss payday | US shutdown bites as federal workers miss payday |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of US government workers have missed their first payday of the year as the partial shutdown of federal agencies bites deeper. | Hundreds of thousands of US government workers have missed their first payday of the year as the partial shutdown of federal agencies bites deeper. |
| Employees such as prison guards, airport staff and FBI agents have been working without pay. | Employees such as prison guards, airport staff and FBI agents have been working without pay. |
| The government shutdown, which began last month, will become the longest in history on Saturday on its 22nd day. | The government shutdown, which began last month, will become the longest in history on Saturday on its 22nd day. |
| 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 have rejected his request for $5.7bn (£4.5bn). | But Democrats have rejected his request for $5.7bn (£4.5bn). |
| About a quarter of the federal government is out of operation until a spending plan is agreed, leaving 800,000 employees unpaid. | About a quarter of the federal government is out of operation until a spending plan is agreed, leaving 800,000 employees unpaid. |
| On Friday, those workers missed their first payday of this shutdown. Some shared their blank payslips on social media. | On Friday, those 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, showing 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, showing 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. | A food bank in Washington, DC reported an influx of federal workers. |
| Radha Muthiah, head of Capital Area Food Bank, said that dozens of volunteers are working to pack bags of food for affected staff. | Radha Muthiah, head of Capital Area Food Bank, said that dozens of volunteers are working to pack bags of food for affected staff. |
| Of the 800,000 federal employees going unpaid, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay-off - while the rest are continuing to work. | Of the 800,000 federal employees going unpaid, about 350,000 are furloughed - a kind of temporary lay-off - while the rest are continuing to work. |
| Thousands have reportedly applied for unemployment benefits amid the financial uncertainty. | Thousands have reportedly applied for unemployment benefits amid the financial uncertainty. |
| One major airport, Miami International, will close an entire terminal this weekend because so many security staff have called in sick. | One major airport, Miami International, will close an entire terminal this weekend because so many security staff have called in sick. |
| What is Washington doing to resolve the stalemate? | What is Washington doing to resolve the stalemate? |
| The House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill on Friday to ensure all government workers receive retroactive pay after the shutdown ends. The president is expected to sign the legislation. | The House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill on Friday to ensure all government workers receive retroactive pay after the shutdown ends. The president is expected to sign the legislation. |
| But that may be small consolation to those federal employees currently in dire straits, with no end in sight to the impasse. | But that may be small consolation to those federal employees currently in dire straits, with no end in sight to the impasse. |
| At a roundtable discussion about border security on Friday with state and local leaders, Mr Trump again demanded that Democrats approve funding for a wall or steel barrier. | At a roundtable discussion about border security on Friday with state and local leaders, Mr Trump again demanded that Democrats approve funding for a wall or steel barrier. |
| "Name it 'peaches'," the Republican president said. "I don't care what they name it, but we need money for that barrier." | "Name it 'peaches'," the Republican president said. "I don't care what they name it, but we need money for that barrier." |
| However, the Democratic leader of the US House of Representatives said the ball was in Mr Trump's court. | However, the Democratic leader of the US House of Representatives said the ball was in Mr Trump's court. |
| Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters: "When the president acts, we will respond to whatever he does." | Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters: "When the president acts, we will respond to whatever he does." |
| What about the president's plan to declare an emergency? | What about the president's plan to declare an emergency? |
| Mr Trump has been threatening to declare a national emergency, which would allow him to bypass Congress and build the wall by raiding military budgets. | Mr 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 move, which would provoke constitutional uproar and legal challenges. | |
| He maintained he had a right to declare the emergency, but added: "I'm not going to do it so fast." | He maintained he had a right to declare the emergency, but added: "I'm not going to do it so fast." |
| According to the Associated Press, senior White House aide Jared Kushner is among those who have urged caution to Mr Trump on the issue. | According to the Associated Press, senior White House aide Jared Kushner is among those who have urged caution to Mr Trump on the issue. |
| US media report 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. | US media report 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. |
| But Republican congressman Mark Meadows, who is close to the president, said that option was not under serious consideration. | But Republican congressman Mark Meadows, who is close to the president, said that option was not under serious consideration. |