Government Shutdown

President Trump has introduced a round of Christmas chaos that imperils direct payments to millions of Americans suffering due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The recent partial government shutdown delayed preparations for the 2020 head count, including for a field test of the controversial citizenship question, internal Census Bureau documents suggest.

What started off as a strong holiday shopping season ended with a whimper, as December retail sales posted the sharpest drop in nine years. That could mean GDP growth will miss the president's target.

Bipartisan negotiators are working on a border security funding deal — but both sides are still sorting out what kind of "wall" or "barrier" is in and whether President Trump will sign it.

If an agreement isn't reached by Friday at midnight, the government could partially shut down again, just three weeks after the end of a 35-day partial government shutdown.

On the 35th day of the government shutdown, the FAA said it was experiencing "a slight increase in sick leave" at two of its facilities, leading to significant delays at certain airports.

Ross says he is puzzled by the challenges federal workers are facing after more than a month with no pay. He told CNBC that workers could just borrow money to tide them over.

Food assistance in the form of SNAP benefits came early this month owing to the shutdown. But in Pennsylvania, recipients are spending the benefits quickly, and there may be no new funds for February.

The government shutdown has led the budget of federal court systems to run dry, causing disruptions to the pursuit of justice. Court officials fear that things could get worse in coming weeks.