President Trump has left town, and major lawmakers have not spoken as the deadline for the October 1 closure approach.
As the deadline approaches, government closures are looming
The government’s shutdown could be within a week, and now the Trump administration is committed to firing more federal workers if it happens.
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WASHINGTON – Government shutdowns are underway next week, and there’s little reason to believe Republicans and Democrats will gather suddenly in the coming days to avoid it.
For one thing, President Donald Trump has left town. He spent the weekend beginning before the closing date of the golf tournament. Lawmakers are almost leaving following a week-long holiday break. And the House is not scheduled to return to sessions until October 1 after it was ostensibly closed.
The deal is nowhere to be seen as Democrats delve into a string of healthcare demands and Republicans refuse to be upset. Starting Wednesday, “essential” government services such as military and law enforcement will continue to work without breakthroughs, but “non-essential” functions like national parks will close or reduce staffing.
“If they have to shut down, they need to close,” Trump told reporters September 26 before boarding Air Force 1 and heading to New York for the Ryder Cup.
As clocks ticking, the lack of urgency in the country’s capital to maintain government lighting is in stark contrast to the possible consequences of closures for many Americans.
Law enforcement, social safety net programs, and other “essential” government services will increase the chances of disruption in those areas if government is shut down. “Not essential” workers in places like national parks could start work indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the panic spread through the federal workforce after threatening massive layoffs if the White House was closed. Usually, the government will temporarily attack employees and bring them back after Congress passes another funding bill.
The prospect of the US government partially crushing the halt will happen even if Trump puts pressure elsewhere. On the world stage, he is pushing forward tariffs that have disrupted years of US alliances and led to economic disruption. At home, he lays eggs for the Department of Justice as he pursues criminal charges against his longtime political adversary, former FBI director James Comey.
Every day, shutdowns seem more like certainty than possible. But even after Trump canceled a scheduled meeting with top Democrats this week, they say they are still open to negotiating with Republicans on their concerns.
Topping their list of requests is a demand to reverse recent Medicaid cuts, extend expired Obamacare subsidies, and pass laws to prevent the White House from withholding money for programs Trump doesn’t like. In a September 24 interview with CNN, Senate majority leader John Toon suggested that these proposals were non-starters.
“The Democrats’ demands are completely indifferent, irrational and unsafe,” said the South Dakota Republican.
But Democrats don’t have a red line, D-Minnesota Sen. Amy Kulbucher said in a call with reporters two days later.
“We never said we needed to have everything,” she said.
If lawmakers do not reach the deal by the end of September 30, the government will be partially closed on October 1.
Congressional leaders do not share an exit strategy as to what will happen next. In an interview with Punchbowl News on September 25th, D-New York House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries showed that things could change rapidly.
“In Washington, five days or so are forever,” he said.
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.
