The government shutdown in the United States is set to continue into the New Year. The shutdown, which began on December 22, has left hundreds of thousands of government workers either furloughed or working without pay. The shutdown occurred as a consequence of the political battle between Republicans and Democrats over funding for a border wall on the US southern border with Mexico. US President Donald Trump has made the building of a southern border wall a key priority for his administration, and has stated that he will not sign a funding measure that does not contain funds for a border wall. If the shutdown is not ended by January 12, it will become the longest shutdown in US history.
