The latest federal government shutdown, which kept 40,000 federal workers from their jobs for 40 days, ended with a tenuous agreement between Democrats and Republicans. If enacted, the shutdown would be the first of that magnitude in almost five years, since it happened during Donald Trump’s first presidential term. Despite the prolonged standoff, Democrats managed to block the Republican funding bill for over a month without facing significant political backlash.
Throughout that shutdown, Donald Trump was going to his personal properties just about every week. One of his biggest claims to fame was a “Great Gatsby” style fundraising event at Mar-a-Lago. His two big international trips, to the Middle East and to East Asia, made the most positive impact. Voters despised these moves so much that his poll numbers tanked. At the time, as the shutdown dragged on, political pundits marveled at the Democratic Party’s civil war. They predict these rifts will only widen in the wake of this incident.
Ultimately, Democrats opted for a compromise that ended the shutdown but only funded most government operations until the end of January. This deal brings back some low-income food assistance for good. It will stay in effect until October, providing relief that’s overdue to families affected by the pandemic.
The political landscape shifted during the shutdown, with Democrats delivering strong performances in last week’s off-year elections in Virginia and New Jersey. Doubts still remained over the party’s overall strategy on how to face down the shutdown. Sen. Angus King, an independent senator who caucuses with Democrats, said the party’s prior approach “wasn’t working.”
In response to the shutdown’s toll on Americans, a female senator stated, “Waiting any longer will only prolong the pain Americans are feeling because of the shutdown.” This sentiment echoes the frustrations felt by many constituents during the impasse.
Senator Mark Warner of Virginia expressed his discontent with the final agreement, stating, “I cannot support a deal that still leaves millions of Americans wondering how they are going to pay for their healthcare or whether they will be able to afford to get sick.” His worries are the same issues at the heart of our continuing struggle over access to care and financial security for millions of Americans.
Just as air travel is getting back on its feet after the production shut-down, legislators are faced with an entirely different monkey wrench. Beyond this, they need to face the larger schisms that lie within their respective party ranks. The funding is not fully secure past January. Both sides are already preparing for another round of negotiations over spending priorities.