The US government faces a potential shutdown due to a stalemate in negotiations between congressional Republicans and Democrats over funding.

• Hundreds of thousands of federal workers could be furloughed, with President Donald Trump's administration directing agencies to consider firing staff rather than previously holding up their pay.
• The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), led by President Everett Kelley, has stressed the urgency of avoiding a shutdown, stating that "federal employees are not bargaining chips."
• Economists warn that a shutdown could reduce GDP growth by 0.2 percentage points for each week it lasts, with a key concern being the delay of the upcoming government report on employment due Friday.