US government shutdown: What happens and who is affected?

A long stand-off could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs

The US government remains shut down as deep partisan divisions prevent Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal.

If it continues past November 4, its 35th day, it will become the longest shutdown in US history. The stand-off has seen hundreds of thousands of federal workers sent on furlough with their pay on indefinite hold, brought major disruption to airports and put food benefits that are vital to millions of Americans at risk.

US government shutdowns are not uncommon but this one seems set to drag on as neither party is willing to compromise.

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The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a massive spending bill at the end of September and then adjourned, leaving the Senate with the decision to take it or leave it. The bill does not have enough backing from Democrats to pass in its current form. They say it will force up health insurance costs for millions.

President Donald Trump continues to advocate major cuts to government agencies and he has already laid off thousands of federal employees in an attempt to battle waste. He has used the threat of more cuts to try to push Congress into passing the budget.

What does a US government shutdown mean?

With the shutdown in place, federal agencies have been required to halt all non-essential operations. This is affecting a range of activities, from national parks to passport applications.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the shutdown has already cost the economy more than $7 billion.

Some federal employees have been told not to report to work. More than 800,000 federal employees were sent on furlough during the 2013 shutdown, according to the Office of Management and Budget. The furloughs would lead to long waiting times on passport applications and small business loans.

Most federal buildings and attractions, such as the Smithsonian museums in Washington, have been closed for weeks. National parks remain open, but the National Park Service is not on patrol and visitor centres are closed.

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How will the shutdown affect the economy?

The shutdown could also affect the US economy and the nation's credit rating, according to Moody's review of past similar situations.

“A shutdown would be credit-negative for the US sovereign,” the credit ratings agency said to clients.

A government-wide shutdown would reduce economic growth by about 0.15 percentage points for each week it lasts, Goldman Sachs says.

How many times has the government shut down?

The federal government has shut down 21 times over the past five decades. The most recent shutdown was also the longest.

From December 2018 to January 2019, during his first term in office, Mr Trump forced a government shutdown to receive funding for the US-Mexico border wall. That ended after 35 days without any funding.

It was one of three shutdowns to have happened during Mr Trump's term. The first lasted three days, and the second only for a few hours.