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Key parts of the US government shut down on December 22 after President Donald Trump and Democratic politicians hit an impasse over the president's request for $5bn in funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border, a demand Democrats oppose. Trump has so far refused to back down on the request, pushing the shutdown into its 34th day, the longest of its kind in US history. As talks continue in Washington, DC, over the partial shutdown, we break down what you need to know: What departments are affected? What does the shutdown mean for federal workers? The shutdown affects more than 800,000 federal workers in nine different departments, as well as several federal agencies. This includes the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, State, Transportation and Treasury. Federal workers deemed "essential" are required to work without pay. Others are furloughed, or placed on temporary leave. Federal employees have sued the US government over the requirement that some workers must work without pay. After past government shutdowns