Government shutdown begins

By Lori Montgomery, Paul Kane and Debbi Wilgoren, Washington Post

The U.S. government on Tuesday began to shut down for the first time in 17 years, after a Congress bitterly divided over President Obama’s signature health-care initiative failed to reach agreement to fund federal agencies.

Thousands of government workers arrived at federal office buildings to clean off their desks, set out-of-office e-mail messages and make whatever arrangements were necessary to stay off the job indefinitely. Others, including Border Patrol officers, prison guards and air traffic controllers, were required to work but were told they may not be paid.

Washington’s iconic memorials were shuttered, along with Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo and national parks across the country. By mid-morning, some frustrated federal workers were already waiting for metro trains to take them back home, carrying potted plants from their offices with them.

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