The shutdown of the United States federal government has now entered its second week. Senators take their attempts at unanimous consent to pass the spending proposals urgent to reopening government operations to a breaking point. The most recent efforts featured stand alone bills introduced by Democrats and Republicans. Unfortunately, they did not come close to meeting the required 60-vote threshold, thus keeping the government in limbo and hurting millions of Americans in the process.
Negotiations among lawmakers hit another dead end this week, as both sides blamed each other. Democrats demand a direct conversation with President Trump regarding the stalemate, while Republicans assert that their counterparts are holding Americans “hostage” over their demands. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed concern about the impact of the shutdown, stating, “The economic consequences of this shutdown are piling up every day.”
The two unsuccessful proposals made clear the rift between the parties on both sides of the aisle. Democrats continue to fight for fiscal priorities. At the same time, Republicans are painting Democratic leaders as closers of the government to pay for undocumented immigrants’ healthcare—a charge Democratic leaders have vehemently rejected.
Yet as the shutdown continues, the economic consequences are harder to ignore. Estimates suggest that the United States could lose approximately $15 billion in GDP each week due to the ongoing impasse. Unemployment rates are in free fall. This new raise is just the latest blow to working Americans, with the greatest impact on those who depend on government services and contracts.
New polling suggests that frustration over a lack of accountability for this shutdown is a widespread concern among the public. According to a recent Washington Post poll, 47% of U.S. adults hold Republicans responsible for the mess we’re in. By comparison, just 30% blame Democrats. An additional 23% of respondents answered that they didn’t know who to blame.
The political standoff has caused huge funding freezes that will have lasting effects. In case you missed it, the White House just announced the suspension of $2.1 billion in federal infrastructure funding for Chicago. New York City last year temporarily halted $18 billion in infrastructure investments. At the same time, it delivered roughly $8 billion in carve outs for federal energy projects to go to largely left-led states.
Even with these current strains, there are indications that many in Congress still want to see things most amicably settled. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer noted, “We know many of my Republican colleagues want this as well,” suggesting a potential willingness to compromise amid the deadlock.
Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley couldn’t hide his exasperation at the ongoing failure of a straightforward idea in the Senate. As he pointed out, illustrating the plight of so many legislators who try to find a solution, “we could vote and vote and vote.” He continued, “It’s really up to five people.” These key figures have the power to end the impasse.
As negotiations have dragged on, both sides have appeared to be going in equally opposite directions in pursuit of a deal. Every day the damage from the shutdown increases, affecting every sector of our economy. Countless more Americans are forced to wait until a final solution is found.