By Louis Dreka designed the actual seal, first used in 1885 per here. Vectorized from a version in stained glass.Original: Maksim Vector: Ipankonin - Vectorized fromSVG elements from, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3407880
By: TPS Staff
The federal government has been shut down since Wednesday, Oct. 1st, after Congress has failed to pass funding legislation. All non-essential work is halted, with many workers laid-off until a new bill is passed. Essential workers continue their jobs without pay, such as Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid, TSA, Passport and Visa Services, and more. However operations are limited, resulting in long wait times and other service delays. The impact on the country varies, but history tells us that the longer a shutdown goes on, the more people it affects.
Senate Democrats and Republicans have been struggling to agree on a funding plan for the country. The Democrats have struck down the proposed funding deal five times, citing concerns over federal healthcare subsidies and the White House’s restructuring of congressionally allocated funds.
Senate Republicans argue that those matters should be decided on separately, because the subsidies expire in December. Trump has threatened to dismantle programs and fire federal workers if they don’t support the GOP spending bill, as the administration has already cut funding from Democratic-led states and cities.
In order for the Senate to pass new legislation, they need 60 votes. The President is trying to mount the pressure on Democrats, but so far they haven’t budged. With both sides of the aisle unwilling to concede, the end of the shut down remains uncertain.
