The Democrats are rallying their voters, who are eager to fight, while Republicans seldom reach outside their base. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, touted as the world’s greatest dealmaker, remains disengaged.
This deadlock in Washington explains why a government shutdown, now tied as the second-longest, shows no sign of ending before Trump’s planned departure for Asia at the week’s end for summits. Unlike his predecessor President Barack Obama, who canceled a 2013 Asia tour during a similar stalemate, Trump has given no indication of doing the same.
The consequences of this partial federal shutdown are worsening. Hundreds of thousands of government employees are furloughed, and the administration has already dismissed several thousand more. On Monday, most specialists managing the U.S. nuclear stockpile at the National Nuclear Security Administration received furlough notices. Air traffic control reported further staff shortages over the weekend, hinting at potential travel disruptions if the standoff continues through Thanksgiving. Additionally, support for 42 million Americans through critical nutrition programs will expire next month.
Government shutdown
Federal workers facing mortgage and car payments and millions depending on government services are suffering greatly. Yet, despite these hardships, neither party’s leadership feels pressured enough to seriously negotiate a reopening. After three weeks, both sides remain stuck in Government shutdown, politics, focusing solely on blaming each other.
At some point, Democrats and Republicans will need to change their strategies. Democrats have effectively used the shutdown to push for Republicans to agree to extended and enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are crucial to preventing millions of policies from becoming much more expensive at year-end.
On Monday, House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told, “This is day 20 of the Trump Republican Government shutdown, and the Government remains closed because Republicans have zero interest in actually providing affordable health care to everyday Americans. That’s the challenge that the country faces right now.”
However, turning this issue’s prominence into a real political win remains difficult. Republicans refuse to negotiate on Obamacare subsidies unless the Government shutdown, stripping Democrats of leverage. Meanwhile, calls from some House progressives for multiyear subsidy extensions before ending the standoff seem overly optimistic.
Centrist Democratic senators, who might seek a compromise, faced complications this weekend due to “No Kings” protests targeting President Trump. After an estimated 7 million people rallied against him as a potential dictator, it’s hard for centrists to strike a deal that looks like conceding to the President.
So far, Democratic efforts to drive a wedge between Trump and Republican lawmakers, who typically hunger for deals, have not succeeded.
