Airport queues, tax returns and border security: What the shutdown means

For the last three weeks, American airport security officers have been working without pay as a result of the government shutdown.

And as an act of frustration and protest, thousands of Transport Security Administration (TSA) officers are calling in sick, creating massive queues at airports around America.

Miami International Airport shut one of its terminals over the weekend to cope with the staffing shortfall, while domestic travellers in Atlanta are being urged to arrive three hours early to allow for longer waits.

Earlier this month one passenger managed to take a gun onto a flight from Atlanta which was not discovered until the plane landed in Tokyo.

Activists are calling on the 51,000 security workers to go on strike, a move that would effectively shut down air travel around the United States.

What is a government shutdown?

The shutdown has been caused by a deadlock over government funding in Washington.

Congress and President Donald Trump need to agree on a continuing resolution (effectively a short-term budget agreement) to keep the government funded.

Democrats in the House have voted on multiple continuing resolutions to fund the government.

But President Trump has vowed to veto any bill that does not include billions of dollars in funding for his proposed border wall.

And for the last three weeks, both the Democrats and Trump have been in a staring contest, waiting for the other to blink.

In the meantime, 800,000 federal workers are either forced to stay home from work, or work without pay.

The shutdown is now the longest in the history of the United States, and there is little sign it will end soon.

Not working

While the TSA is working for free, airline safety inspectors are not working at all.

Unable to work, many inspectors are standing outside airports with alarming signs.

"Was your airplane properly repaired and inspected today? The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) does not know!" one sign read.

Also not working are the federal food inspectors, meaning there is little to ensure Americans are not eating contaminated food.

And while the shutdown affects 800,000 federal workers, soon it risks affecting every American's hip pocket.

Sent home in the shutdown is nearly every worker at the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), the agency that should be issuing tax returns at the end of this month.

At the end of the week the nation's poorest people will no longer be able to apply for food stamps.

And if the shutdown continues until March, the body responsible for school lunches for impoverished children will run out of money.

Who's to blame?

Depending on who you ask, the blame for the government shutdown lies either with President Trump, or Democrats in Congress.

But the polls have consistently shown most Americans are pointing the finger at the president.

While Trump's approval rating has declined in the last few weeks, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's numbers have actually improved.

Trump's comments to Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer last month made it hard to Republicans to shift the blame elsewhere.

"I am proud to shut down the government for border security," he said.

"I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down."

And his first Oval Office address to the nation last week did not change many minds.

A survey from respected pollster Quinnipiac released today showed Americans are siding with the Democrats over Trump by a 63-30 percent margin.

And just two percent of voters said the president's televised address changed their minds on the topic.

For now, the usually lavish White House receptions have taken a more humble tone.

When hosting college football champions the Clemson Tigers, Trump served a banquet of McDonald's, Burger King and Pizza.

With the kitchen staff furloughed, the meal is being paid for out of the President's pocket.