The US government shutdown took effect at midnight after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement on a funding bill. The fight centres on Medicaid cuts and budget priorities, leaving about 750,000 federal employees furloughed without pay, while “essential” staff, such as law enforcement, military personnel, and air traffic controllers, must continue working unpaid.

Social Security, Medicare, and the Postal Service will continue to operate, but many agencies are facing layoffs and service cuts. Contract workers, such as cleaners, may not receive any back pay. Trump is blaming Democrats and even hinted that the shutdown could be used to scrap entire departments. So, what would you do if your paycheck just stopped overnight?