Nation plunges into  government shutdown

Congress plunged the nation into a partial government shutdown today as a long-running dispute over President Barack Obama?s health care law stalled a temporary funding bill, forcing about 800,000 federal workers off the job and suspending most non-essential federal programs and services.

The shutdown closed national parks, museums along the Washington Mall and the U.S. Capitol visitors center. People classified as essential government employees ? such as air traffic controllers, Border Patrol agents and most food inspectors ? will continue to work.

The health care law itself was unaffected as enrollment opened Tuesday for millions of people shopping for medical insurance.

The military will be paid under legislation freshly signed by Obama, but paychecks for other federal workers will be withheld until the impasse is broken. Federal workers were told to report to their jobs for a half-day but to perform only shutdown tasks like changing email greetings and closing down agencies? Internet sites.

The self-funded Postal Service will continue to operate and the government will continue to pay Social Security benefits and Medicare and Medicaid fees to doctors on time.