WASHINGTON (AP) — The longest government shutdown in history could end as early as today, its 43rd day, but few are satisfied with the final outcome.
Democrats didn’t get the health care provision they wanted added to the spending deal. And the Republican Party, which controls the levers of power in Washington, was also not exempt from blame. public opinion poll and some state And the local elections didn’t go well.
The fallout from the government shutdown hit millions of Americans, including federal employees who went to work without pay and airline passengers whose trips were delayed or canceled. Suspension of nutrition assistance programs has led to long lines at food banks and increased emotional distress ahead of the holiday season.
The agreement includes bipartisan legislation put together by the Senate Appropriations Committee to fund parts of the government, including food assistance, veterans programs and the Legislature. All other funding will be extended through the end of January, giving lawmakers more than two months to complete additional spending bills.
Here we will look at how a shutdown begins and ends.
What led to the shutdown
Democrats made several demands to gain support for the short-term funding bill, but the central demand was an extension of the strengthened policy. tax credit This reduces the cost of health insurance obtained through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.
The tax credits were expanded again during the coronavirus response through Joe Biden’s big energy and health care bill, but are set to expire at the end of December. Without it, insurance premiums for millions of Americans would more than double on average. More than 2 million people will lose health insurance coverage completely next year, the Congressional Budget Office has predicted.
“Never before have American families faced a situation where their health care costs have doubled, doubling in the blink of an eye,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D.Y.).
Democrats have called for negotiations on the issue, while Republicans said a funding bill must be passed first.
“Republicans stand ready to work with Democrats as soon as they stop holding the government hostage to partisan demands,” said Senate Minority Leader John Thune (D).
Thune ultimately promised Democrats a December vote on extending the tax credit to resolve the conflict, but many Democrats wanted a solid solution rather than a vote that was likely to simply fail.
Mr. Thune’s position was broadly similar to the position Mr. Schumer took in October 2013, when Republicans tried unsuccessfully to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act in exchange for more government funding. “If we open up the whole government, we can have fruitful discussions,” Schumer said at the time.
Democratic leaders under pressure
In the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, more than 200,000 federal workers have left their jobs through layoffs, forced reassignment or the administration’s deferred resignation program, officials said. Partnership for public service. All institutions that did not align with the administration’s priorities were dismantled. And billions of dollars previously approved by Congress frozen or canceled.
Democrats had to rely on the courts to block some of Trump’s efforts, but were unable to do so through legislation. They were also powerless to stop Trump’s huge policies Tax cuts and immigration enforcement bill Republicans helped pay for it by cutting future spending on safety net programs like Medicaid and SNAP (formerly known as food stamps).
Democrats are struggling to blunt the Trump administration’s priorities, prompting calls for a stronger response from the party’s legislative leadership.
Schumer experienced that firsthand after announcing in March that he would support pushing for a funding bill for the 2025 budget year. There were protests at his office, calls from progressives for him to run for a primary in 2028, and suggestions that Democrats may soon be looking for a new leader.
This time, Schumer called on Republicans to negotiate with Democrats to get votes for the spending bill. He noted that Senate rules require bipartisan support to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to pass a spending bill.
But no such negotiations took place, at least not with Mr. Schumer. Instead, Republicans worked with a small group of eight Democrats to craft a short-term bill to fund the government at roughly current levels, accusing Schumer of pandering to the party’s left when he refused to do so.
“Senate Democrats are afraid that the radicals in their party will say they have given in,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said during multiple daily press conferences.
blame game
The political stakes in the shutdown are so high that leaders of both parties are holding press conferences almost daily to shape public opinion.
According to the poll, about 6 in 10 Americans say President Trump and Republicans in Congress bear “a great deal” or “a great deal” of responsibility for the government shutdown, while 54% say the same about Democrats in Congress. Associated Press-NORC Public Affairs Research Center.
At least three-quarters of Americans believe each deserves at least a “moderate” amount of responsibility, highlighting that no one has successfully avoided responsibility.
Both parties looked to the Nov. 4 elections in states like Virginia and New Jersey for signs of how the government shutdown is affecting public opinion. Democrats took comfort in their overwhelming success. President Trump called this a “huge negative factor” for Republicans. However, the Republican Party’s stance on negotiations remained unchanged. Instead, President Trump stepped up his calls for Republicans to end the Senate filibuster. This would almost eliminate the need for the majority party to negotiate with the minority party.
Damage caused by shutdown
The Congressional Budget Office says the results are negative. impact Economic activity will mostly recover once the shutdown ends, but it will not recover completely. Permanent economic loss is approximately $11 billion Due to a 6 week closure.
But beyond the numbers, the shutdown created a series of problems for many Americans. Federal employees fell behind on their paychecks, causing financial and emotional stress. The traveler owns flight was delayed And sometimes they were cancelled. People who rely on safety net programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; advantage That stopped, and Americans across the country lined up at food banks for meals.
“This dysfunction is hurting our constituents and economy enough at home, but it also sends a dangerous message to the world watching,” said Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kanna. “It shows our allies that we are unreliable partners, and it shows our adversaries that we cannot work together to meet even the most basic responsibilities of Congress.”
