Today marks Day 9 of the first federal government shutdown since early 2019, and Americans are beginning to feel the effects of the partisan stalemate. As the deadlock continues, Forbes is maintaining a shutdown tracker here with the latest developments.

So far, over 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed, with the White House suggesting Tuesday that those workers might not receive back pay once the government reopens. Some agencies are implementing especially aggressive cuts: the Department of Education, a workforce that is 65% women, has furloughed nearly 9 in 10 employees.

For small businesses, the SBA’s freeze on its main loan programs is already putting strain on owners, and for female founders—who receive less than 3% of venture capital—it cuts off one of the few accessible sources of funding.

Food assistance programs, including SNAP and the federal program to assist women, infants and children (WIC), are now “subject to the availability of funding,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture contingency plan leaving women and mothers who rely on these programs vulnerable to potential lapses in assistance. 

The last government shutdown during the prior Trump Administration lasted for 35 days, and with no deal in sight, the length of this one is anyone’s guess. On the first day of the shutdown, Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) sat down with Forbes breaking news reporter Brittany Lewis to discuss the situation. At the time, Salinas told “Forbes Newsroom" viewers she didn’t believe this would be a long fight. Time will tell if she was right.

Hang in there,

Erin Spencer Sairam

P.S. As a member of the 50 Over 50 reporting team, I’d be remiss not to remind you: Nominations for this year’s 50 Over 50 Global List are open until November 23. Once again, we’re looking for women from every continent and country (other than the U.S.) who are actively stepping into their power in their sixth decade or beyond. Know someone who should be on our radar? Put their name forward here. Need ideas? Last year’s list is a great place to start.

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl has sold 3.5 million album units since it was released last Friday, surpassing Adele’s decade-old record. The billionaire popstar also glitter bombed the box office with her 89-minute companion film, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, which racked up $33 million and claimed the No. 1 spot during its single-weekend run, according to early figures.

Mary Brunkow, senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, is one of three scientists who were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their findings on the immune system, discoveries that lay the foundation for a new field of research and the development of new treatments for cancers and autoimmune diseases. 

Ju Yeon Park has spent two decades building some of the most beloved Korean dramas on TV. Now, with Tempest streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, and Netflix investing $2.5 billion in Korean content, she’s leading a new era of cross-cultural collaboration between Korea’s storytellers and Hollywood’s biggest platforms.

Days after her death, Netflix released a March interview with Jane Goodall, which was intended to only be shared publicly after her passing. In her closing message to the world, the renowned primatologist takes aim at Musk, Trump, and other world leaders, but concludes with a lasting message of hope for the planet.