The U.S. government is still in a shutdown that has now lasted for 28 days, with no clear end in sight. The federal budget conflict between the two parties has become one of the longest funding interruptions in history, affecting practically every part of the country, from parks to salaries.
The deadlock over federal government spending began on October 1, when Congress couldn’t pass new spending bills or a temporary funding measure to keep the government open for a short time. The funding shortage led to the complete closure of some government agencies and a slight reduction in their operations.
The federal government has designated the military, border control, and airport traffic as essential workers. At the same time, it has already fired or is paying lower salaries to thousands of employees. National parks and museums have closed, researchers have halted their experiments, and even routine jobs, like passport renewals, have slowed down.
Differences in funding for healthcare programs and in the total amount of federal spending are the key factors driving the impasse. Democrats are pushing to extend government subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) programs and increase Medicaid funding, while Republicans are proposing a “clean” funding bill without any policy add-ons. The atmosphere is very strained, and none of the parties involved has indicated a willingness to compromise.
The economic impact becomes more severe with each passing day. Federal employees did not receive their salaries for the second time last week, and economists predict a loss of billions in productivity and consumer spending this month. The contractors assisting the federal government are also going unpaid and may never be compensated for their labor.
The ongoing shutdown has created significant tension among people in and outside Washington. Every day, lawmakers meet, but the difference between the House and Senate proposals is still huge. A large part of the government will remain inactive until a pact is reached, and the same will hold for the Americans, who are to get their paychecks, services, and stability back. In the meantime, millions of them will just wait.