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Government Shutdown Updates: Where Things Stand Now Government Shutdown Updates: Where Things Stand
(about 2 hours later)
Updated Jan. 25Updated Jan. 25
President Trump agreed on Friday to reopen the federal government for three weeks while negotiations proceed over how to secure the nation’s southern border. As The Times reported, the move paved the way for Congress to quickly pass spending bills that he would sign to restore normal operations at a series of federal agencies until Feb. 15 and begin paying again the 800,000 federal workers who have been furloughed or forced to work for free. Read more here. President Trump agreed on Friday to reopen the federal government for three weeks while negotiations proceed over how to secure the nation’s southern border. The move was a surprise retreat after a monthlong standoff with Democrats over billions of dollars for his proposed border wall.
Mr. Trump’s announcement paved the way for Congress to quickly pass spending bills that he would sign to restore normal operations at a series of federal agencies until Feb. 15 and begin paying again the 800,000 federal workers who have been furloughed or forced to work without paychecks. Read more here.
The news came after flights were delayed in the Northeast, with the Federal Aviation Administration blaming it on a shortage of air traffic controllers as a result of the government shutdown. Additionally, federal employees missed another paycheck Friday.The news came after flights were delayed in the Northeast, with the Federal Aviation Administration blaming it on a shortage of air traffic controllers as a result of the government shutdown. Additionally, federal employees missed another paycheck Friday.
[See how the effects of the government shutdown are piling up.] [See how the effects of the government shutdown have piled up.]
Before Friday’s news, the Republican-controlled Senate voted on two competing proposals to end the shutdown. As expected, neither garnered the 60 votes needed for passage. Over the next three weeks, a House-Senate conference committee representing both parties will try to reach a consensus on a border security plan.
The results had undercut the president by revealing that his proposal drew less support in the Republican-controlled Senate than did the Democrats’ plan. Afterward, Mr. Trump spoke positively about talks between Senators Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, but he had said was not dropping his demand for wall funding. If Republicans and Democrats cannot reach an agreement by Feb. 15, Mr. Trump indicated that he was ready to shut down the government once again, or declare a national emergency, which the White House argues would allow him to build the wall without lawmakers’ approval. (That approach would almost certainly face legal challenges.)
“One of the ideas suggested is they open, they pay some sort of prorated down payment on the wall, which you need,” the president had told reporters at the White House. “If they come to a reasonable agreement,” he had said of Mr. McConnell and Mr. Schumer, “I would support it, yes.” We could hear more about Mr. Trump’s position in the State of the Union address, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday and was postponed at the urging of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It was not immediately clear when the speech might proceed.
Democrats had indicated privately that they would not accept a first installment of wall funding as a condition of reopening the government. But some had emphasized that they shared the president’s goal of adding security measures at the border, as long as he would first agree to end the shutdown. said he was not dropping his demand for wall funding.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi had also told the president that she would not pass a resolution authorizing him to give his State of the Union address in the House chamber until the shutdown ends. Mr. Trump said late Wednesday that that was “her prerogative,” and that he would give his State of the Union address when the government reopens. For a president who prides himself on being a master negotiator, Ms. Pelosi is a different kind of opponent, and one who so far has flummoxed him.
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When the shutdown began, just over half of the roughly 800,000 federal workers who were left without pay continued to work, including members of the Coast Guard and food safety inspectors. The number of people working has grown as the Trump administration reinterprets longstanding rules, often to the benefit of the president’s base. When the shutdown began, just over half of the roughly 800,000 federal workers who were left without pay continued to work, including members of the Coast Guard and food safety inspectors. The number of people working grew as the Trump administration reinterpreted longstanding rules, often to the benefit of the president’s base.
Federal workers who have in the past turned down opportunities to enter the lucrative private sector are feeling less certain about that decision. Since the shutdown began, some have already left the government or are talking about leaving. Federal workers who have in the past turned down opportunities to enter the lucrative private sector are now feeling less certain about that decision. Some have already left the government or are talking about leaving.
“They’re relying on the pure good intentions of the higher skilled work force,” said Matt Linton, a computer security specialist in California who worked for NASA’s Ames Research Center for 14 years. “And that’s what they drain down the most quickly in these stupid shutdowns.”“They’re relying on the pure good intentions of the higher skilled work force,” said Matt Linton, a computer security specialist in California who worked for NASA’s Ames Research Center for 14 years. “And that’s what they drain down the most quickly in these stupid shutdowns.”
Aviation professionals issued a warning that threats to the safety of the nation’s air travel system were compounding by the day. The airline industry reported that it was losing revenue. The funding freeze has also hindered the F.B.I.’s efforts to crack down on child trafficking, violent crime and terrorism. Aviation professionals issued a warning that threats to the safety of the nation’s air travel system were compounding by the day. The airline industry reported that it was losing revenue. The funding freeze also hindered the F.B.I.’s efforts to crack down on child trafficking, violent crime and terrorism.
Furloughed federal employees have started part-time jobs with delivery and ride-hailing apps and have applied for other opportunities, such as yoga-instructor positions, to try to make ends meet. Furloughed federal employees started part-time jobs with delivery and ride-hailing apps and have applied for other opportunities, such as yoga-instructor positions, to try to make ends meet.
Many federal workers have filed for unemployment benefits. In Washington, local programs have sprouted up to support the city’s large, struggling federal work force. Nationally, an informal network of businesses has also mobilized to ease the pain. Many federal workers have filed for unemployment benefits. In Washington, local programs have sprouted up to support the city’s large, struggling federal work force. Nationally, an informal network of businesses mobilized to ease the pain.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Thursday that federal workers who are not being paid during the shutdown should take out loans to stay afloat. Furloughed employees balked. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Thursday that federal workers who had not been paid during the shutdown should take out loans to stay afloat. Furloughed employees balked.
Some of the employees who had to report to work during the shutdown spoke with The New York Times about their experiences.Some of the employees who had to report to work during the shutdown spoke with The New York Times about their experiences.
[A typical federal worker has missed $5,000 in pay from the shutdown so far.] [A typical federal worker missed $5,000 in pay from the shutdown.]
Federal courts, which have been open and operating despite the shutdown, are now expected to run out of money at the end of the month. Some courts have delayed civil cases, and court-appointed lawyers have not been paid at all. Federal courts, which remained open despite the shutdown, were expected to run out of money by the end of the month. Some courts delayed civil cases, and court-appointed lawyers were not paid at all.
And the shutdown has also been felt by cultural institutions. It has caused museums in Washington to close and has put exhibitions, like the National Gallery of Art’s Tintoretto show, at risk. Now, it has even endangered a sculpture that was recently launched into orbit. And the shutdown was also felt by cultural institutions. It caused museums in Washington to close and put exhibitions, like the National Gallery of Art’s Tintoretto show, at risk. It even endangered a sculpture that was recently launched into orbit.
The White House acknowledged recently that the shutdown had had a far greater toll on the United States economy than previously thought. The White House acknowledged recently that the shutdown had a far greater toll on the United States economy than previously thought.
Americans remain relatively upbeat about their personal finances, but have become increasingly worried about the economy during the shutdown, according to a recent poll conducted for The Times by the online research firm SurveyMonkey. Americans remain relatively upbeat about their personal finances, but became increasingly worried about the economy during the shutdown, according to a recent poll conducted for The Times by the online research firm SurveyMonkey.
Low-income Americans whose leases are subsidized by the government are worried about their rent because the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is closed, cannot make payments to landlords. Low-income Americans whose leases are subsidized by the government worried about their rent because the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is closed, could not make payments to landlords.
Some of the most vulnerable Americans — including the homeless, older people and those one crisis away from the streets — are feeling the burden. Without payments from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, nonprofit groups that support low-income renters are also struggling. Many other social safety net programs are facing similar crises. Some of the most vulnerable Americans — including the homeless, older people and those one crisis away from the streets — felt the burden most keenly. Without payments from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, nonprofit groups that support low-income renters were also struggling. Many other social safety net programs were facing similar crises.
Legions of contractors are out of work and, unlike federal employees working without pay, they have no expectation of recovering the missed wages. Legions of contractors were put out of work and, unlike federal employees working without pay, they have no expectation of recovering the missed wages.