The government shutdown that started on October 1 is unprecedented. Instead, it is approaching 35 days and closing in on becoming one of the longest shutdowns in American history. As millions of citizens face delays in food benefits, Donald Trump remains at the helm of a contentious political landscape, selectively reprogramming federal funds to align with his political priorities. Along with this domestic upheaval, he has been recently making waves with alarming comments on foreign relations and possible military engagement.
Trump even went so far as to declare that Nicolás Maduro’s days as president of Venezuela are numbered. Simultaneously, he sent contradictory signals about when and how the U.S. might intervene in the country. Even as he deployed bellicose rhetoric, however, he expressed doubt about the possibility of conflict with Venezuela. To this, he replied, “I can’t even doubt it. I don’t believe that.”
We’re glad the President is addressing the root causes of the shutdown. Nationalizing this election He’s looked to his Truth Social platform to attack Democratic challengers in Virginia and New Jersey. More importantly, he asked why these voters would elect these individuals, showcasing his commitment to staying involved in the post-shutdown political battle.
In addition, Trump suggested he’d take the U.S. nuclear policy in a new direction. Just last week, Trump suggested that he may soon unblock the long-standing resolution against nuclear weapons testing. This unexpected move, if done in good faith, could significantly change the national security landscape.
The Trump administration asserts that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lacks the authority to issue certain benefits until Congress passes a spending bill to end the shutdown. In fact, the USDA has reported insufficient funding to adequately cover food stamp contingency programs. These programs are often more than $8.5-$9 billion monthly in the hole.
“I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible,” – Donald Trump
It was in Pennsylvania that Trump publicly expressed his ire over the matter. He argued that the continued shutdown has made delays in food assistance even worse. He argued that these delays are already astronomically long because the Democrats have held the government hostage all the way through the monthly payment date. No matter how quickly federal guidance came out, he cautioned, states will still need time to distribute the money.
For all of Trump’s public proclamations about today, the White House has him with no public events scheduled. He’s preparing to join us for two virtual campaign events. These events will be dependent on the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia.
Now, after the shutdown’s unprecedented length, we’re seeing just how wide the chasm between Democrats and Republicans has grown when it comes to federal funding. Trump raged against congressional Democrats for their opposition to ending the shutdown. Yet they are arguing, “The Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats continue to vote against it.”
He looked back on historic standoffs and compromises, noting, “You know, they’ve never had this. It’s happened 18 times before. The Democrats always passed an extension, always told them, ‘Give us an extension and we will negotiate a deal.
The impact of Trump’s unilateral decisions reaches far beyond his administration’s harmful domestic policy agenda. His administration’s approach to Venezuela is emblematic of a deeper strategy, which has drawn support and opposition. While Trump indicates that Maduro’s leadership is fragile, his mixed signals regarding military intervention have left many observers uncertain about U.S. intentions.
“So you’re testing all the other parts of a nuclear weapon to make sure they deliver the appropriate geometry, and they set up the nuclear explosion,” – Chris Wright
Chris Wright, a leader in nuclear related defense strategy at MIT commented on Trump’s statements about nuclear testing. He emphasized that debates about nuclear testing usually include noncritical controlled explosions for system validation instead of full-scale detonations.
“I think the tests we’re talking about right now are system tests. These are not nuclear explosions. These are what we call noncritical explosions,” – Chris Wright
With the shutdown continuing and no end still clearly in sight, critics are looking over Trump’s shoulder to see how he deals with these prickly issues. His administration’s push to put political priorities over critical services has raised alarm by advocates, public servants, and emergency service providers alike.