US government shutdown begins as partisan division rules Washington

By David Morgan, Bo Erickson, Nolan D. McCaskill and Richard Cowan

Summary:

– 750,000 federal workers furloughed, $400M daily cost.

– Shutdown delays economic reports, air travel and research.

– Democrats push health care funding; Republicans cite political disputes.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government shut down much of its operations on Wednesday as deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a funding deal, setting off what could be a long, grueling standoff that could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs.

There was no clear path out of the impasse, while agencies warned that the 15th government shutdown since 1981 would halt the release of a closely watched September employment report, slow air travel, suspend scientific resea