Why it matters:
The partial shutdown of the U.S. government marks a major political failure, underscoring the deep divisions between Democrats and Republicans. This shutdown threatens to disrupt essential services and has sparked concerns about long-term consequences for federal employees and public programs.
The big picture:
Funding for the federal government expired at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, after the Senate failed to pass competing stopgap proposals. This marks the first shutdown since 2018, with President Trump's threats to use the situation to implement drastic cuts raising concerns over the potential consequences for federal workers and services.
What they are saying:
President Trump warned, “We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them—like cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programmes that they like.”
In response, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Republicans are plunging us into a government shutdown rather than fixing their healthcare crisis”.
Key points:
- Essential services, including law enforcement and military operations, will continue, but many federal employees will be furloughed without pay.
- Social security and food assistance payments will remain unaffected.
- The shutdown follows failed negotiations, with Democrats rejecting a Republican stopgap bill and Republicans dismissing a Democratic proposal for increased healthcare funding.
- Last-minute Senate efforts to avert the shutdown failed, with a Republican bill falling short of the necessary votes.
Go deeper:
The current shutdown is the 15th since 1980, with the longest lasting 34 days during Trump's first term. The ongoing political stalemate reflects deeper challenges in US governance, particularly regarding healthcare and budgetary priorities. As both parties continue to trade blame for the impasse, the implications for federal workers and public services remain uncertain.
Zohre Khazaee - Mojtaba Darabi
