Federal agencies post messages blaming shutdown on 'radical left' Democrats

Agencies across the federal government have posted notices blaming "radical left" Democrats for the shutdown, a break from the traditional approach of simply outlining which services are suspended during a lapse in funding.

Congress failed to reach a funding agreement late Tuesday, triggering the shutdown. Since then, thousands of federal employees have been classified as either “excepted,” meaning they are required to work without pay, or “not excepted,” which indicates they are furloughed.

Furloughed workers typically receive back pay once the government reopens, but federal contractors generally do not.

Members of Congress, however, will continue to receive their salaries during a shutdown. The U.S. Constitution requires that senators and representatives “receive a Compensation for t