Government Shut Down

 Excerpts
WASHINGTON (AP) - Christmas-season gridlock descended on the nation's capital Saturday liked an unwelcomed present just before the holiday as America's elected leaders partially closed down the government over their inability to compromise on money for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

With negotiations expected to resume, the House and Senate scheduled rare Saturday sessions. House members were told they would receive 24 hours' notice before any vote.
 
The impasse blocks money for nine of 15 Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies, including the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, State and Justice.
 
The disruption affects many government operations and the routines of 800,000 federal employees. Roughly 420,000 workers were deemed essential and will work unpaid just days before Christmas. An additional 380,000 will be furloughed, meaning they will stay home without pay.
 
Federal employees already were granted an extra day of vacation on Monday, Christmas Eve, thanks to an executive order that Trump signed this past week. The president did not go to Florida on Friday as planned for the holiday.
 
Those being furloughed include nearly everyone at NASA and 52,000 workers at the Internal Revenue Service. About 8 in 10 employees of the National Park Service were to stay home; many parks were expected to close.

http://newjersey.news12.com/story/39685742/federal-shutdown-begins-after-lawmakers-fail-to-reach-deal?fbclid=IwAR1AJKqFro1n1UN11IwDBug_HQRXkoqdfAPrCTfkUbNYGShXPPnRNROttpg