As the U.S. Congress failed to pass a budget and the federal government entered a "shutdown" (temporary work stoppage), some agencies have closed.
According to foreign media on the 1st (local time), public institutions and tourist attractions across the country suspended operations due to the shutdown. As it was the first day, the impact was not yet large, but the ripple effects are expected to intensify starting on the 6th after the weekend.
In the capital, Washington, D.C., ◇ Washington Monument and ◇ National Archives, ▲ U.S. Botanic Garden, ▲ Library of Congress and the Visitor Center, among others, were reported closed.
On this day, the Washington Monument posted a notice on the building saying, "Due to the government shutdown, we will be closed until further notice," and "We apologize for the inconvenience."
The Library of Congress also noted in a notice, "Due to the lapse in appropriations caused by the temporary shutdown of the federal government, all Library of Congress buildings are closed until further notice."
The Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex, announced on its website that day, "The Institution's museums, research centers, and the National Zoo are open today and will remain open at least through Monday, Oct. 6." The Institution operates 21 museums, 14 education and research centers, and the National Zoo with federal subsidies and private donations.
National parks across the United States were open, but some parks operated with only minimal staffing and suspended facility operations, inconveniencing visitors. Florida's Everglades National Park, Maine's Acadia National Park, and Georgia's Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park were reported to have closed their visitor centers or restrooms.
With this shutdown, civil servants in essential sectors such as defense and public safety continue to work, while nonessential employees are placed on unpaid leave. Those who work during the shutdown are expected to receive back pay after it ends.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that about 750,000 federal employees will be placed on unpaid leave due to the federal shutdown. That amounts to 35% of the total 2.1 million federal employees.
The U.S. Senate sought to vote on temporary budget measures from the Republican and Democratic parties that day, but they were defeated again, following the previous day. The parties have been unable to narrow differences over extending subsidies for the public health insurance law, Obamacare (ACA). The shutdown is expected to continue at least until a revote, anticipated as early as the 3rd.