Government Shutdown: 800,000 Workers Go Without Pay

The game of chicken failed. Neither side blinked. Now millions will pay the price.

Americans watched a colossal failure by Congress overnight - and the shut down of their government.

For weeks, the House and the Senate blamed and bickered, each claiming they're standing up for what the public wants.

In the end, it led to the one outcome nobody wanted - one that will stop 800,000 Americans from getting paid and could cost the economy about $1 billion a week.

This is the first time the government has shut down in nearly 18 years. The last time it did, the stalemate lasted 21 days.

But the largely polarizing Affordable Care Act is funded, and it’s government operations that screech to a halt. CNN's Brianna Keilar  reports on Day 1 of the closure.

But how did it come to this?

Over the past week, the House had sent a version of the funding bill with provisions the Senate found objectionable; the Senate kicked it back. The House sent it again; the Senate kicked it back again.

While Congress could pass a temporary funding measure as they work out their differences, there are no signs of any discussion along those lines right now.

House Speaker John Boehner held a press conference overnight saying he hopes the Senate will agree to meet.

When asked if he had a message for the 800,000 furloughed employees - or if he has a plan to restore back pay to them - Boehner responded, "The House has voted to keep the government open, but we also want basic fairness for all Americans under Obamacare."

SEE CNN's BRIAN TODD REPORT ON BOEHNER'S ROLE IN ALL THIS:

For full story, visit CNN.com.