US Government Shutdown
On Friday, January 19, 2018, the US Government entered official shutdown, which signifies a cease in non-essential government operations, such as keeping national parks open; as a consequence of indecision in the US senate.
Senators in Washington failed to reach an agreement for the year's national budget. By protocol, the government shuts down all but essential activities. Non-essential employees are temporarily laid off, and essential employees are kept working without pay until the government reactivates operations (and they are paid their owed salaries).
Senator Mitch McConnell has proposed a "continuing resolution" which funds government activities for a short period of time until a spending bill is approved.
According to Vox, both the Democratic and Republican parties are "playing a blame game" against each other, but many speakers from both parties blame US President Donald Trump for the shutdown.
Commentators expect the shutdown to end on Monday.
