The federal government is shut down. Here's what that means across the country

"The federal government is currently shut down, after lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill by 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1. All non-essential services have been suspended and several hundred thousand federal employees and active-duty service members will work without pay. Reporters from the NPR Network are digging into the ways the government shutdown is affecting services across the country. As we enter another week with a lapse in federal funding, here's what we know."

"A partisan argument over if and when lawmakers need to act to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces led to the current shutdown. 24 million people who don't have insurance through their jobs or a public program like Medicaid use the system to buy health plans. Democrats in the Senate refused to vote for the Republican short-term funding bill that passed the House but did not include an extension of the enhanced premium tax credits."

"As we approach week two, there has been no movement or progress on ending this government shutdown. Republicans in the House have already passed a measure that would temporarily fund the government until Nov. 21. But in the Senate, Republicans so far do not have enough Democratic support. There's no clear way out, as both parties are in "who blinks first" mode."

The federal government shut down after lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill by 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1. All non-essential services have been suspended, and several hundred thousand federal employees and active-duty service members will work without pay. A partisan dispute over extending Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies triggered the impasse, affecting about 24 million people who buy plans through those marketplaces. Senate Democrats rejected a House short-term funding bill that did not extend enhanced premium tax credits. House Republicans passed a temporary funding measure to Nov. 21, but the Senate lacks enough bipartisan support, leaving negotiations stalled and outcomes uncertain.

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