Even members of Congress don’t know what it takes to back up the government.
Which federal workers will be affected by government closures?
Government closures affect hundreds of thousands. Who is working, who is sent home, and someone is paid during government shutdown?
WASHINGTON – Democrats don’t know how long the government shutdown will last a day ago. They say they are talking to Republicans.
Ask Republicans and they point their fingers to the Democrats. According to the GOP leaders, they have leverage to get the lights back in Washington.
What about Vice President JD Vance? He believes the shutdown could soon be over. But it’s a “pure guess.”
This is the uncertain reality of the first government shutdown of seven years, and the partisan atmosphere in Washington after lawmakers plunged the country into the latest chapter of political dysfunction.
Asked to estimate the potential length of the shutdown, Senator D-Delaware and Senator D-Delaware told USA Today he “don’t think about it.”
Sen. Chris Murphy of D-Connecticut said, “I’ll ask Republicans.”
“The fact in question is that when Republicans become serious about talking to Democrats, the government opens up,” he said.
From national park staff to financial regulators, federal workers across the country are becoming intermittent, putting government services that Americans rely on at risk. Employees deemed “essential” like military enforcement and law enforcement will continue to work unpaid.
The longest government closure occurred between December 2018 and January 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. It lasted for 35 days and was heavily linked to a dispute over funding the tropical border wall.
Asked if the latest shutdown could get worse, Senator Richlorida told USA Today that he would create Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer’s.
“It’s up to Schumer,” he said. “Completely.”
Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, said he hopes Democrats will “come to their senses sooner than later.”
Faced with pressure from voters, Senate Democrats have withheld their support as Republicans turn back Medicaid cuts, extend Obamacare Premium grants that expire at the end of the year, and upspending health insurance prices for millions of Americans.
Congress’ GOP leaders say these demands are non-stars. Sen. Thom Tilis of R-North Carolina said the closure will plow “as long as it takes Democrats to agree to fund the government.”
Republicans accused Democrats of pushing for expanding federal health funds to undocumented immigrants already prohibited by law.
“We don’t do a single statement, clause or comma in our bill,” Schumer told reporters on September 30.
To be precise, the fiscal crisis may depend on the extent of further layoffs in the federal workforce. Normally, the shutdown is only a quick Farrow where federal workers stay at work and receive a refund once the government reopens.
However, this shutdown is almost certainly different.
The Trump administration has already ousted thousands of federal workers out of the government and unilaterally cuts down due to programs the president hates. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press conference on October 1 that more layoffs will arrive in just a few days.
At the same press conference, I heard that the Vice President is more confident than most lawmakers about the closure. In his mind, it will not be carried over indefinitely.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a long shutdown,” Vance said. “I think you’ve already seen some evidence that medium Democrats are cracking a bit.”
Zachary Schermele is a council reporter for USA Today. You can contact him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @Zachschermele and follow Bluesky at @Zachschermele.bsky.social.
