The US government stopped working on Wednesday because Democrats in Congress did not agree to a Republican idea for keeping the government funded. The Republican plan was tied to getting certain things changed about healthcare, and the refusal meant the money ran out at midnight. There was a rush to pass laws, but neither party could get their bills approved in the Senate.
Background of the Shutdown
This shutdown was thought to be the first since the 35-day one in 2018, which happened when Trump was president for the first time. It was noted that Democrats were trying to get voters back after losing control of both parts of Congress. The shutdown started when talks broke down late on Tuesday night.
Political Standoff Between Democrats and Republicans
While Republicans strongly opposed it, Democrats requested changes. Still the main subject of debate in these meetings was healthcare. Though the Republicans controlled the Senate, they lacked the necessary 60 votes. This caused Republican and Democratic measures to be blocked, hence increasing the rift.
Effects of the Shutoff on Federal Agencies and Personnel
The White House said there would be a lot of people losing their jobs if the money ran out. Government workers were told that their jobs would be cut right away after the shutdown. President Trump said that Democrats would be targeted, and this statement was not well received. The Office of Management and Budget also put out a letter blaming Democrats for “crazy policy requests.”
Healthcare and Policy Demands of Democrats
Democrats wanted the tax credits for ACA plans to be extended before the end of the year. They also strongly opposed cutting Medicaid and reducing aid to other countries. Republicans said that government funding had to be approved first before any talks. The expected cost of what the Democrats wanted was about $1 trillion, which made it even harder to agree.
Divisions Within the Democratic Party
To safeguard families, Nevada’s senator Catherine Cortez Masto voted against her party. According independent senator Angus King stated it was among the most difficult decisions he had ever made. Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman double voted for the Republican initiative as well. These disagreements showed that there were already problems within the party.
Public Opinion and Poll Reactions
Polls showed that people had different opinions. A survey by the New York Times and Siena showed that 65% of Americans did not want a shutdown. Only 27% were in favor of it. Most independent voters were against the shutdown. Another poll by Marist showed that 38% of voters blamed Republicans, 27% blamed Democrats, and 31% blamed both parties equally.
Answers of Republican Leaders
Republican leaders said Democrats were driven by political motivations. John Democrats were charged with sacrificing people for political advantage. John Barrasso pointed out disagreements within the Democratic party. Senator Ted Cruz called the shutdown strategy a “temper tantrum” and said that Democrats would eventually give in.
Conclusion
The United States government was forced to close when Democrats would not agree with the GOP’s money plan. The situation got worse because what people wanted for healthcare did not match what Republicans were willing to allow.
People working for the government were at risk of losing their jobs, and many departments could not work correctly. Differences inside the Democratic Party became clear, and surveys of the public showed different feelings. Republicans said it was the Democrats’ fault, while Democrats said that Republicans would not have fair conversations. The shutdown seemed like a short-term but important look at how much power each side had. It was thought that things would go back to normal if they could agree on healthcare and money matters.
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