- The closure stops the critical economic data, affects federal workers.
- The Senate rejects the expenditure measure, deepens the partisan division.
- Analysts warn the closure could last more than past closures.
Washington: The United States government closed a large part of its operations on Wednesday, since the deep partisan divisions prevented Congress and the White House from reaching a financing agreement, triggering what could be a long and exhausting confrontation that could lead to the loss of thousands of federal jobs.
There was no clear path outside the impasse, while the agencies warned that the 15th closing of the government since 1981 would stop the release of an employment report in September in a close way, slow air trips, suspend scientific research, retain the pay of US troops and lead to the license of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $ 400 million.
Trump, whose campaign to radically remodel the federal government is already on the way to expel about 300,000 workers in December, warned the Democrats of Congress that a closure could clear the path of the “irreversible” actions, including the cut of more jobs and programs.
The closure began hours after the Senate rejected a short -term expenditure measure that would have kept government operations afloat until November 21.
The Democrats opposed the legislation on the refusal of the Republicans to grant an extension of the health benefits for millions of Americans, who will expire at the end of the year. Republicans say the problem must be addressed separately.
In a matter of the Government Financing Front, it is $ 1.7 billion for the agency’s operations, which is equivalent to approximately a quarter of the total budget of $ 7 billion from the government. Much of the rest goes to health and retirement programs and interest payments on the growing debt of $ 37.5 billion.
Independent analysts warn that the closure could last more than the closures of the past related to the budget, with Trump’s officials and the White House who threaten to punish democrats with cuts to government programs and federal payroll.
Trump’s budget director Russell Vought, who has asked for “less bipartisan” assignments, threatened permanent layoffs last week in case of a closure.
Non -partisan measure devoid of partisan policy pilots
The closure of the longest government in the history of the United States extended for 35 days during December 2018 and January 2019 during Trump’s first mandate in office, in a dispute over border security.
“All they want to do is try to intimidate us. And they will not succeed,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in a floor speech one day after a White House meeting with Trump and other leaders of the congress that ended with the two very separate games.
The leader of the majority of the Senate, John Thune, described the failed draft short -term expenses as a “non -partisan” measure devoid of partisan policy pilots that the Democrats have had no problem accepting in past years.
“What has changed is that President Trump is in the White House. That’s what this is political. And there is no substantive reason why there should be a government closure,” said the South Dakota Republican reporters.
Trump Republicans have majorities in both Congress cameras, but legislative rules require 60 of the 100 senators to agree on expenses legislation. That means that at least seven democrats are needed to approve a financing bill.
Focus on health financing
The Democrats are under pressure from their frustrated supporters to obtain a rare victory before the mid -period elections of 2026 that will determine the control of the congress during the last two years of Trump’s mandate.
The impulse of health has given them the opportunity to join behind a subject that resonates with voters.
Together with extended health subsidies, Democrats have also tried to make sure Trump cannot undo these changes if they are signed.
Trump has refused to spend billions of dollars approved by Congress, which caused some Democrats to question why they should vote for any expense legislation.
The professor of the University of Chicago, Robert Pape, said that the unusually polarized American political climate after the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the growing power in the extreme wings of both parties could make it difficult for the party leaders to agree to reopen the government.
“The rules of politics are changing radically and we cannot know with certainty where all this will end,” said Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, Robert Pape, who studies political violence.
“Each side would have to go back against dozens of millions of truly aggressive followers, their own components, which will be really difficult for them,” he said.
Before closing, Trump contacted his own supporters with a Deepfake video that showed manipulated images of Schumer who seemed to criticize the Democrats, while the Democrat of the Top Chamber, Hakeem Jeffries, stopped next to him, with a hat and a crudely drawn mustache taxes on his face.
“He was childish. He was petty,” Schumer told journalists. “It’s something a five -year -old boy would do, not a president of the United States. But he shows how inserted they are. They don’t care about a damn damage that will cause with their closure.”
