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 what is it ? WHY ? 

As the ongoing partial government shutdown enters its 22nd day, it has set a new record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

The current shutdown began on Dec. 22, meaning the government has been closed for a full 21 days and counting.

The previous record-holder for longest shutdown was an incident at the end of 1995 and beginning of 1996, under former President Bill Clinton. The government remained closed for 21 days when Clinton and Congressional Republicans disagreed about how to balance the country’s budget.

This time, the government partially shut down after President Donald Trump refused to sign any spending bill that did not include $5 billion for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Talks dissolved between the White House and Congressional leaders, leaving a number of federal agencies without funding.

Since then, Democrats, who took control of the House of Representatives at the start of this year, have tried to pass legislation to reopen the government. But the President has not changed his position and they have been unable to reach a deal.

Trump has suggested he would keep the federal government partially shut down for “months or even years” if he does not get funding for his border wall, and threatened on Thursday to declare a national emergency to go around Congress if necessary.

The government shutdown is already affecting about 800,000 workers and many Americans who rely on government services. So far, the shutdown has meant that national parks are filling up with trash and many are closed, that some government loans and grants are not being processed, that Coast Guard members and others have been forced to work without pay, and that the Food and Drug Administration has stopped its routine food safety inspections, among other consequences.

Many federal employees would have been paid on Friday under normal circumstances, but have now missed that paycheck.

If the shutdown continues, federal district courts could run out of funds to operate and, by the end of this month, federal workers could miss a second paycheck. By February, there would be even more serious consequences, as many agencies would need to develop longer-term plans for how to operate with limited staff and no funding.

What will be affected?

State and local farm service centers. They will be closed, leaving no one to answer questions or assist farmers in signing up for programs under the Farm Bill recently approved by Congress.

National parks. Some may close, others may offer limited services. During a shutdown last January, gates at national parks remained open but few staff members were on hand. Buildings were shuttered, and sometimes that included restrooms.

Small business owners. More than 30 million small businesses will no longer have access to federally assisted loans and technical assistance since Small Business Administration guarantees to back loans will freeze.

Home buyers. Americans looking to buy a new home or refinance a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration will be put on standby.

Crime victims. Those who have been victimized in a crime won't be able to receive money from the federal government amid the shutdown. 

Food inspections. Some food safety inspections will also be delayed. The Food and Drug Administration in past government shutdowns had to delay some not non-essential inspections. 

Public housing. Those with public housing could also be affected. The speed of some loans from the Federal Housing Administration was slowed along with payments to public housing agencies, according to Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif.

Violence against women. It's not only services. Funding for the Violence Against Women Act stopped with government shutdown, according to Roll Call. The law, considered a landmark bill in 1994, expired along with funding for other government agencies.