Shutdown longest on record
THE PARTIAL shutdown of the US government became the longest in history as a quarter of US federal workers faced their 22nd day without pay yesterday.
President Trump’s “Mexican standoff” with Congress over funds to build a border wall has left the US Embassy in London partially staffed, with “key” diplomats forced to work without pay.
More than 800,000 federal employees were not paid on Friday and while essential workers such as FBI agents, airport staff and prison guards are exempt, nine departments are affected, including homeland security, justice, housing, agriculture, commerce, interior and the treasury. It has meant the closure of many US tourist attractions.
Terence Shigg, a border patrol agent in San Clemente, California, who supports Trump’s wall, declared: “It’s ironic we are among the ones suffering over this.”
Trump is refusing to sign off the budget unless Congress includes £4.5billion for a wall – an election pledge. But Democrats in the House of Representatives refuse.