Government Shutdown

Some state governments and tourism boards have been using their own funds to keep the parks open. Elsewhere, open but unstaffed parks have become something of a free-for-all.

"There's no getting around it," Linda St. Thomas, chief spokeswoman for the Smithsonian. About two-thirds of the institution's staff are federal employees and will be furloughed effective Jan. 2.

Lawmakers planned to extend the law, but it expired on Friday. Payment requests from VAWA-funded programs will be delayed until the law is reauthorized, but grants already given will not be affected.

The Senate has approved a short-term measure to fund government agencies at their current spending levels and put off any fight over a border wall until February. The House takes up the bill Thursday.

Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are still fighting over President Trump's demand to include $5 billion for a border wall in the annual spending bill and have until Dec. 21 to get a deal.

After the death of former President George H.W. Bush top Hill leaders decided to prepare a two-week funding bill to postpone a fight over President Trump's demand for $5 billion for a border wall.

Deficit? Debt? Shutdown? Debt ceiling? NPR offers a guide to some of the political and economic terms you're likely to hear.

Three times in three days this week, President Trump said he would force the government to shut down if Democrats do not agree to fund a wall with Mexico and make changes to immigration laws.

The partial federal shutdown that went into effect at midnight on Friday has a broad impact, from closing Independence Hall to furloughs at the Department of Education.