Federal workers across the United States are facing a challenging situation as the government shutdown continues, leaving many employees without pay. The shutdown, which began on December 22nd, 2018, has now entered its third week, affecting various government agencies and services.
Thousands of federal workers, including those from agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service, are currently working without pay or have been furloughed. The lack of pay is causing significant financial strain on these individuals and their families, with some government employees expressing frustration and anxiety over their uncertain financial future.
President Donald Trump has stated that the shutdown will continue until funding for a border wall between the United States and Mexico is secured. The President’s insistence on the border wall has led to a standoff with Congress, particularly with Democratic leaders who oppose allocating funds for the wall.
Democrats argue that the border wall is unnecessary and ineffective, and they have called on President Trump to end the shutdown to allow federal workers to receive their pay. On the other hand, the President has maintained that border security is a critical issue that must be addressed, even if it means keeping the government partially closed.
As negotiations between the President and Congress remain at a standstill, federal workers find themselves caught in the middle, facing financial hardship through no fault of their own. The longer the shutdown persists, the more dire the situation becomes for these employees who are essential to the functioning of the government.
The uncertainty around when the government will reopen and workers will receive their pay is a growing concern for many federal employees who continue to perform their duties during this tumultuous time. The impact of the shutdown reaches far beyond political circles, affecting real people who are struggling to make ends meet as the impasse in Washington continues.
Sources Analysis:
Government agencies – It is essential to view statements from government agencies with caution as they may have a vested interest in presenting information in a way that aligns with government policies.
Political leaders – Statements from political leaders should be analyzed considering their political affiliations and agendas, as they may aim to sway public opinion in their favor.
Fact Check:
The start date of the government shutdown on December 22nd, 2018 – Verified fact. The beginning of the shutdown is a well-documented event.
President Trump’s insistence on funding for a border wall – Unconfirmed claim. While President Trump has consistently pushed for funding for the wall, the effectiveness of a border wall in enhancing security is a matter of debate and not universally agreed upon.
—
Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “‘My pay is being held hostage’: Federal workers on US government shutdown”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.