PRES. TRUMP AWARDED INAUGURAL FIFA PEACE PRIZE AT WORLD CUP DRAW IN WASHINGTON . (PHOTOS).
The Senate plans two more votes on Wednesday, giving lawmakers another opportunity to shift their positions on the funding dispute that triggered the first government shutdown in six years.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders are expected to hold news briefings on Wednesday to address the shutdown, which began at midnight after separate proposals to keep the government running failed to secure enough support. Following a break on Thursday for Yom Kippur, Senate votes on funding are scheduled to continue Friday and through the weekend.
Lawmakers on both sides have blamed each other for the shutdown. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York criticized the Republican plan, saying it fails to address the health care crisis and is “totally partisan.” Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming called Democratic short-term funding requests “ludicrous” and described the negotiations as a “shakedown.”
The shutdown is already affecting federal operations. Tours at the Washington Monument were canceled on Wednesday morning, with staff furloughed due to the closure, but the impact extends far beyond tourism. President Donald Trump warned that furloughs, permanent layoffs, and program cuts could occur during the shutdown.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that up to 750,000 federal workers could be furloughed, with no clear end in sight. Federal labor unions have filed a lawsuit to block any mass layoffs. At the Department of Education, around 95% of the workforce will be furloughed, though financial aid and student loan payments will continue. Civil rights investigations and new grant programs will be paused immediately.
Other agencies will see similar impacts. At the Department of Health and Human Services, 41% of employees will be furloughed, though the Centers for Disease Control will continue monitoring disease outbreaks. Essential personnel, including military members, FBI agents, air traffic controllers, intelligence officers, and postal workers, will remain on duty throughout the shutdown.
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