The government shutdown began on midnight on Saturday, December 22nd, 2018 due to a lapse in federal funding. It all happened because President Trump demanded a budget of $5.7 billion to go toward building a wall along the US-Mexico border.

There have been many major consequences to the shutdown, as it is affecting both federal workers and the US economy. Since December, about 800,000 federal workers are urgently preparing for another missed paycheck this week. Further, on Monday, January 21, about 7.5% of all Transportation Security Administration workers called out sick. These workers rather stay home than go to work without being paid, as about 53,000 of them are currently unpaid.

This government shutdown has been the longest in history, with the second longest being 21 days during Bill Clinton’s administration, which similarly demonstrated two presidents not agreeing to budgets proposed to them by Congress.

Further, there has been a lot of drama between President Trump and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. For example, Pelosi threatened to reschedule the State of the Union, which is currently scheduled for Tuesday, January 29th, for apparent security reasons. To retaliate, President Trump canceled Pelosi’s trip to Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Overall, because of all the financial hardship that this shutdown has brought upon not only government workers but on the American economy as well, Congress and the President need to set aside their differences and create a compromise that will promote the health of the nation.