Federal Government Shutdown Speculated to be Longest in History

   On Wednesday, October 1st, the federal government partially shut down due to The Senate being unable to reach a consensus on a funding bill in order to prevent the temporary closure. Thousands of federal workers have been furloughed with essential workers remaining without pay, both parties have blamed each other for catalyzing the shut down.

    The partial shutdown affects all federal agencies and workers as most have been discharged with exceptions to veteran services, social security services, and other essential services for the public. This includes national parks, museums, and non-essential federal agencies. According to USA Today, “The biggest impacts of the shutdown will be felt by government employees who work under nonessential services, such as national parks.”

 President Donald Trump has entered negotiations with Democrats on healthcare subsidies for the affordable care act and is willing to make a deal with them for a bill expanding on allowances for healthcare. “We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things. And I’m talking about good things with regard to health care,” said Trump in the Oval Office.

  Democrats and Republicans have both blamed each other for causing the shutdown as the democrats have not backed funding bills in the senate without subsidies for Obamacare with Republicans unable to compromise with them in the senate for a funding bill. “But that bill has failed repeatedly in the Senate, including Wednesday, on a 55-45 vote. It needs 60 votes to advance, which requires cooperation in a chamber where the GOP has a 53-47 majority,” as stated by the Associated Press.

    As the partial shutdown continues, further cuts are expected to come to the labor force and other sections of the federal government until funding is achieved to allow the government to return to normalcy.