WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. government has entered a shutdown, leaving thousands of federal workers facing unpaid leave and disrupting key services across the nation. This latest impasse, which will continue until Congress passes a funding bill, is not an unfamiliar event in American politics.
A History of Stoppages
While the current duration is unknown, history shows that government shutdowns have varied in length. The longest on record occurred in 2018-2019 during the Trump administration, lasting 35 days. Other notable shutdowns include:
- 21 days in December 1995
- 16 days during the Obama presidency
- 5 days under former President Bill Clinton
- Four separate shutdowns lasting just one day each between 1982 and 1987
Political Blame Game Continues
The political rhetoric surrounding the shutdown remains heated, with both Democrats and Republicans placing blame on the opposing party. A joint statement from two senior Democrats, Senate’s top Democrat Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, accuses Republicans of halting the government to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The statement claims, “Donald Trump and the Republicans have now shut down the federal government because they do not want to protect the healthcare of the American people.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, counters this, blaming Democrats’ demands for extending ACA tax credits, which he calls a “red herring.” This partisan divide has so far prevented any bipartisan solution.
Impact on Americans
The shutdown will have a significant impact on daily life for many Americans.
- Federal Workers: An estimated 750,000 federal workers will be placed on unpaid leave, costing approximately $400 million per day in lost compensation, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Members of Congress will continue to receive their paychecks as required by the U.S. Constitution.
- Law Enforcement and Essential Services: Over 200,000 law enforcement officers, along with border protection, in-hospital medical care, and air-traffic control personnel, are considered “essential” and will continue to work, though without pay.
- Air Travel: While air traffic control and Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) workers are deemed essential and will remain on the job, the last shutdown saw an increase in sick calls from these workers, leading to potential delays in security checks.
- Mail Delivery: The U.S. Postal Service is unaffected as it doesn’t rely on Congress for funding, so post offices will remain open and mail will be delivered as usual.
