Sarah Cobran

Sarah Cobran has worked at the National Cancer Institute for more than two decades, so she's been through a number of shutdowns.

She says they're never easy, but she hasn't seen anything like this, with the president and his budget office threatening to fire furloughed workers.

She spoke to NPR in her personal capacity.

That's the law now.

That's the law.

President Trump and congressional Republicans say Democrats are wholly to blame for the shutdown and the harm it's causing.

Democrats counter that Republicans have refused to negotiate.

Andrea Hsu, NPR News.