Watch the Smithsonian “Giant Panda Cam” amid government shutdown
The Smithsonian National Zoo still runs live broadcasts of many animals despite the federal government shutdown.
The partial federal closure is now on its sixth day, with the Senate scheduled to vote for its fifth StopGap funding bill on Monday, October 6th, but there is still a shortage of the 60 votes needed to proceed.
If President Donald Trump decides that negotiations with Congressional Democrats are “all going” then the Trump administration will launch a massive layoff of federal workers, a White House official told Reuters on Sunday, October 5th.
When asked by a reporter when the administration began firing federal workers, the president replied, “It’s happening now.”
What do you see here as the shutdown enters day 6?
Is the federal government still closed?
Yes, the federal government remains partially closed.
Salaries have been suspended for around 2 million federal workers, around 750,000 have been ordered not to work, and others, such as troops and air traffic controllers, will have to work without compensation until they reach a budget contract.
Senate Democrats are not only calling for a permanent extension of federal grants to help people provide health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, but they also ensure that the White House respects the deal.
Senate majority leader John Toon said he is willing to address Democrats’ concerns but must first agree to reopen the federal government.
Trump spoke about his desire to reform the ACA, also known as Obamacare.
“We want to fix it just like we want to fix it. Obamacare was a disaster for people, so we hope it will be fixed and work,” the president said.
What about Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid?
The Social Security Administration will continue to issue retirement and disability benefits, but it will hit 12% of staff and suspend marketing campaigns, according to agency closure plans.
Similarly, payments will continue under the Medicare and Medicaid health programs.
Will food aid continue under SNAP and WIC?
According to a closure planning plan document issued by the US Department of Agriculture, special supplementary nutrition programs for women, infants and children known as WIC, and special supplementary nutrition programs for women, infants and children known as WIC, will continue with special supplementary nutrition programs known as WIC, and special supplementary nutrition programs for women, infants and children.
Will US email be sent?
USPS said in a statement that the USPS would not be affected because it does not rely on Congress. The post office is open.
How about the airport?
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers will continue to work unpaid until the closure ends. Most TSA employees will continue to work, according to the agency’s statement.
What does shutdown mean to the military?
Based on an executive order from Trump, the newly appointed War Department statement reveals that 2 million US military personnel will remain unpaid until the closure ends, but officially the Department of Defense unless Congress officially changes his name.
The National Guard that Trump deployed in American cities must also continue to work.
What about law enforcement, borders, and homeland security?
Agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Bureau, the Coast Guard and other federal law enforcement agencies will continue to work.
Department of Justice staff administering the immigration court system will mostly remain at work, as Trump declared illegal immigration as a national emergency.
According to the Department of Homeland Security’s closure strategy, Border Patrol and immigration enforcement agents, like most customs officials, will remain in their posts.
