The shutdown highlights US government dysfunction

After more than six weeks, the longest stoppage in the nation's history, the United States federal government is getting back to work.

After 43 days, the Democratic Party abandoned its effort to preserve personal health care insurance subsidies, and just days after their win in last week's minor elections, voted to end the holdout

• US model tarnished as longest government shutdown ends
  

  US model tarnished again as longest government shutdown ever ends

  The shutdown is so globally unusual because no other country reacts to a lapse in funding bills by shutting down operations, giving the world the impression that the US government is divided, dysfunctional and poorly designed.

Republicans have played a game of chicken with food assistance, travel safety and federal paychecks, all because they will stop at nothing to cut your health care.

The only thing that congressional Republicans are more loyal to than Donald Trump is to cutting the health care of the American people.

Representative Sarah McBride, Democrat

• US government shutdown ends as Trump signs funding bill
  

  Record-long US government shutdown ends as Trump signs funding bill

  The record-long government shutdown ends as US President Donald Trump signs the funding bill.

Absolutely no question in anybody's mind now that the Democrats were responsible for this, what happened?

Millions of American families went without food on their table.

You had millions of Americans stranded in airports with their flights canceled and delayed.

You had troops and federal employees wondering where their next paycheck would come from.

Mike Johnson, Speaker of The House, Republican

• US government shutdown sparks anti-Trump protests
  

  US government shutdown sparks anti-Trump protests

  The federal government shutdown, now in its sixth week, is the longest in US history, costing the economy $20 billion weekly and affecting 1.2 million civil service workers, critically impacting services for the lower class, including school meals.

The shutdown is so globally unusual because no other country reacts to a lapse in funding bills by shutting down operations.

It was the fifth shutdown or near shutdown in the last eight years, giving the world the impression that the United States government is divided, dysfunctional and perhaps poorly designed.

I think we look ridiculous. I think it looks like we can't figure anything out. We can't sit down in a room and have a conversation, which is exactly what happened.

I think everybody suffered. I definitely don't think  this is a win for the Democrats.

It's putting off the inevitable.

Again, I don't know necessarily that it's a win for the Republicans, but since it's not for the Democrats, it almost seems like it has to be.

Member of Public 01

• US shutdown longest in history as Senate deadlock persists
  

  US govt. shutdown becomes longest in history as Senate deadlock persists

  The US government shutdown has entered the 36th day, becoming the longest in the US history as Senate deadlock persists.

The Democrats' capitulation comes despite increasing grassroots resistance towards Donald Trump's right-wing policies.

Polls also consistently showed that Republicans had been blamed for the shutdown more than Democrats.

I don't think in a situation like this anybody really wins.

I think both sides will try to use it for kind of political currency, or to demean the other side.

And I think that's part of the problem. Is that, you know, cooler heads are not prevailing in recent history; it's so polarized.

Member of Public 02

• US government shuts down, Trump threatens federal layoffs
  

  US government shuts down as Trump threatens mass federal layoffs

  The US government enters shutdown on Wednesday as nation faces new period of economic uncertainty under the Trump administration.

The end of the shutdown may have come about for one simple reason; the upcoming Christmas holidays.

The agreement does not resolve the budget deadlock, as it only authorizes the Trump administration to spend money until February 1 of next year.

The accord may have been driven by the political desire to prevent snarled air travel and long food lines during the Christmas holidays.

• Flight delays persist at major US airports 
  

  Flight delays persist at major US airports as government shutdown continues

  Air flights continue to be delayed at major US airports amid the ongoing government shutdown.

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