The federal government shut down last week after Democrats and Republicans came to an impasse over the former’s efforts to protect health care for the millions of Americans who are insured through the Affordable Care Act.
Vice President JD Vance told Americans to brace for “pain” from the shutdown, which was expected to furlough some 750,000 workers, while others, including active-duty troops, head to work without pay. President Donald Trump’s administration also threatened to carry out mass firings during the shutdown.
The Trump administration is also being criticized for blaming Democrats for the shutdown in emails to federal workers ― something experts say may violate the Hatch Act. Trump and members of his inner circle have also repeatedly claimed Democrats are fighting to give free health care to undocumented immigrants, which is wildly misleading.
