US federal government shuts down

The United States federal government shut down Tuesday, October 1 (noon in Manila) after Congress failed to pass a funding bill on time, the first such major suspension of US government work in 17 years. The failure to pass a funding bill by Congress was a result of the wrangling between President Barack Obama and Republicans, with the Democratic-led Senate and Republican House of Representatives sending funding bills between them that were doomed to fail. Around 800,000 government workers faced being sent home, government services were to be slashed and monuments such as the Statue of Liberty and national parks were to be closed.

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