WASHINGTON -- The federal government was thrown into a shutdown Wednesday with no easy endgame in sight, as Democrats held firm to their demands to salvage health care subsidies that President Donald Trump and Republican in Congress have dismissed as something to possibly discuss later.

Many essential workers don’t get paid at the time of the shutdown, but by law, they receive back pay when the shutdown is over. Technically, nonessential government workers are furloughed, which means they can’t work for the government and their pay is suspended during the shutdown, but also subject to back-pay guarantees.

A petition calling for lawmakers to not receive their salaries during the government shutdown has accrued over 94,000 signatures.

This is false. Democrats say they are pushing for the inclusion of key health care provisions in the next congressional spending package.

Stocks ended the day mixed on Friday as investors continue to brush off concerns about the government shutdown.

CNN political commentator Van Jones shared his ‘concern’ about Democrats amid the government shutdown on ‘Real Time’ Friday.

Salem is preparing for more than a million visitors this month for their annual Haunted Happenings, even as the federal government shutdown creates some unexpected obstacles.