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<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFrom furloughed workers to small business owners, Americans tell USA TODAY Network how the government shutdown is affecting their lives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The federal government shutdown<\/a> continues on Monday, Oct. 20, marking the third-longest shutdown in U.S. history, surpassed only by the 1995 and 2018-2019 shutdowns.Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona said on Sunday, Oct. 19 that lawmakers could reopen the government this week if the Republicans are willing to discuss health care subsidies now.”We should be able to wrap things up this week, if they will sit down and have a negotiation with us,” Kelly said on “Face the Nation.”<\/a>Republican Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama, who also appeared on Sunday’s show, urged Democrats to “do the right thing”<\/a> and reopen the government first.<\/p>\n The Senate will reconvene and vote on Monday<\/a> at 5:30 p.m. ET for the 11th time to end the government shutdown. If the bill passes and is signed by President Donald Trump<\/a>, the shutdown will end. If it fails, the shutdown will extend into its third week.<\/p>\n Yes, the federal government remains largely shut down<\/a> and has been since just after midnight on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n More than 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed<\/a> and ordered not to report to work. Employees deemed essential to public safety, including military personnel, law enforcement officers, border patrol and air traffic controllers<\/a>, are required to work regardless.<\/p>\n While Trump signed an executive order<\/a> directing the Pentagon to ensure active-duty military personnel are paid despite the shutdown, this doesn\u2019t apply to all federal workers required to stay on the job.<\/p>\n Democrats are pushing to ensure tax breaks for 24 million Americans<\/a> who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act (referred to as “Obama Care”) and have refused to back a government spending bill that doesn\u2019t address the issue.<\/p>\n The Senate Dems want to make the tax break permanent, which would otherwise expire at the end of the year, and provide reassurances to prevent the Trump administration from temporarily withholding funds.<\/p>\n Republicans and the president say they are open to considering a fix for the expiring ACA tax breaks<\/a>, but want the issue addressed separately from the ongoing budget impasse. Republicans have also claimed that the Democratic proposal could partially pay for health coverage for people who are in the country illegally<\/a>. That\u2019s not true, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Social Security Administration<\/a>\u00a0will continue to issue retirement and disability benefits, but will furlough 12% of its staff and pause marketing campaigns, according to the agency\u2019s shutdown plan.<\/p>\n Payments will likewise continue under the\u00a0Medicare and Medicaid<\/a>\u00a0health programs.<\/p>\nIs the federal government still shut down?<\/h2>\n
What do Democrats and Republicans want for the government to reopen?<\/h2>\n
What happens to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?<\/h2>\n
Does the US mail get delivered?<\/h2>\n