What is a government shutdown? Here's what happens when funding runs out

Much of the federal government shut down after Congress failed to reach a deal to approve new funding. Here's what that means.

Trump wants Japan to fund his government's ambitious spending. What's in it for them?

The Trump administration has big plans for the massive pot of money promised by Japan and other countries as part of their trade deals with the United States. But the eye-popping sums, as well as the White House’s demands for near-total control of the money, are raising doubts that the funding will ever materialize.

How long do government shutdowns last? How often do they happen?

Congress has walked up to the edge of a shutdown numerous times in recent years, but prolonged closures are rare.

How Will the Government Shutdown End? Three Possible Scenarios

The U.S. government has been in shutdown since Tuesday evening, after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a funding deal.

Why government shutdowns are so common in the U.S. but not other democracies

Other Western democracies experience polarization and political turmoil, too, yet do not experience government shutdowns like the U.S.

Senior government officials privately warn against firings during shutdown

Senior federal officials have quietly counseled several agencies against firing employees while the government is shut down - as President Donald Trump has suggested he will - warning that the strategy may violate appropriations law,

The longest US government shutdowns

Thousands of U.S. federal employees stopped working on Wednesday when the government shutdown due to a budget impasse in Congress.

Trump’s shutdown architect: Russ Vought’s plan to deconstruct the government was years in the making

Vought has transformed a role typically focused on the weeds of congressional appropriations into Trump’s primary instrument to dismantle, piece-by-piece, federal agencies and spending plans.
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