US Government Shutdown: Federal Services Halt as US Budget Dispute Escalates

The United States government shuts down basic income to who upon disagreement with healthcare and other budgets sit at the center of the contention between Donald Trump and Congress. To this end, funding is cut off effectively forcing many offices nationwide to shut down on a non-essential basis and many jobs are being compromised.

Why Did the Government Shutdown?

The immediate cause lies in the inability of Republicans and Democrats to pass a new spending bill that would keep the government funded beyond October while Republicans hold the majority in both chambers of Congress the Senate requires 60 votes to advance the measure and leaving them dependent on at least some Democratic support.

It was put forward as a temporary funding proposal through November 21. The Democrats rejected it stating that healthcare concerns must first be resolved before any deal can move forward.

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When Will This End?

It is all dependent on negotiations and would end if the Republicans were to go along with the Democrats in extending the healthcare subsidies or if the Democrats were to compromise and give temporary funding until resolved on the healthcare. The standoff will remain as is until one party or the other gives in.

What Impact on Federal Services?

• Not all federal functions suspend operations during a government shutdown. Agencies which are protectors of life and property continue to function, but other departments are thrown into a mixture.
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is losing a great deal of its oversight abilities undermining protections for public health.
• The Department of Education is going to furlough most of their employees, slowing down checks and balances of the funding to the schools.
• The Department of Homeland Security keeps the bulk of its personnel on the job due to its responsibility toward the national security.
• The Department of Defense concentrates on its top priority which is national security along the lines of border security, Middle East operations and missile defense.

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A Brief History of Shutdowns in America

From the date of initiation of the modern budget process in 1976, the United States has experienced 21 shutdowns of different lengths and intensity. In the beginning of the modern budget process many agencies stayed open even during funding lapses a 1980 legal ruling made it mandatory to shut down unless their services could be deemed essential.

One of the longest shutdowns in history has been that of the 2018-2019 period of 35 days as a result of disagreement towards Trump's proposal on building a border wall. The standoff went on with almost 800,000 federal workers unpaid evidencing how disruptive can these political battles be.

What will be the Budget Dispute?

Shutdowns are viewed as temporary squabbles in the arena of politics; however, their impact transcends those walls. They interrupt service delivery, sow uncertainty for government workers and showcase polarization within American politics. Until resolution is arrived at this shutdown will serve again as a living testimony to the fraidyawn bridle between governance, negotiation and partisanship.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. Details on the US shutdown are based on political reports and may change as negotiations progress.