The United States' federal government is entering the third week of a partial shutdown, and as negotiations continue without any apparent progress, the U.S. Arctic - and Americas' broader role in the region are affected.

The Coast Guard is one of the key Arctic-focused agencies affected by the federal government shutdown, Arctic Todays reports.

The Coast Guard managed to stretch its 2018 budget until the end of the year. But as of January 1, none of its employees are being paid.

Even in the absence of new funding or a continuing resolution that would allow the agency to pay its employees, the Coast Guard is required to continue some of its operations - those that "provide for national security, or that protect life and property", accordring to a statement about the shutdown on the Coast Guards' website.

Paul Zukunft, a retired admiral of the Coast Guard, told Arctic Today that he is "keenly aware" of the effects of the stalled appropriations process, particularly upon the recapitalization of the U.S. polar icebreaking fleet.

"We are loosing precious time working with industry to lock down a contract for final design and start cutting steel on a heavy icebreaker while our only heavy icebreaker approaches the end of its service life", he said.