Shutdown showdown: on the U.S. federal government shutdown

The U.S. federal government shutdown has entered its 39th day, making it the longest such closure in American history, with a sharp impact on nearly 1.4 million federal employees who have been furloughed without pay, not to mention countless more affected by the suspension of a range of public services. The latest blow to the American public came on the heels of an announcement that major U.S. airlines would be reducing flights at more than 40 airports this week owing to a shortfall in air traffic controllers, leading to a heightened threat to air safety. The shutdown has also crippled normal functions in food and nutrition benefits including food stamps for the poor, early learning programmes for low-income families, services related to the Internal Revenue Service, national parks and soc