UPDATE: 7:45 a.m. (PST), Monday, October 1, 2013
Reading email...live blogging by The Guardian Washington correspondents:
Part of the difficulty this morning for 2m federal workers is that many did not find out until they showed up for work as usual whether they were part of the "essential" core that would be kept on the job. Some were told to stay. Others were sent home.
Paul Lewis and Dan Roberts watching the shutdown unfold:
Some federal workers were reportedly instructed to switch off their BlackBerry smartphones to prevent them from working remotely, a disciplinary offence.
From 7am, forlorn-looking commuters could be seen heading to government buildings and agencies across Washington DC, where they would learn their fate. The city, where the government is a huge employer, will feel the impact of the federal shutdown more acutely than anywhere else in the US. The White House said it estimates a one-week shutdown would cost the wider US economy $10bn.
Recent Comments