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The Donald Trump-led US government is on the verge of a shutdown if both Republicans and Democrats fail to reach a consensus on passing the short-term funding bill by Tuesday midnight. If Congress fails to pass the bill, all important federal operations will cease to function at 12:01 AM Wednesday.
The US shutdown crisis is caused by a dispute between the ruling and opposition parties over the funding of vital schemes, especially healthcare provisions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. With Republicans commanding both houses of Congress, tussles with Democrats over funding cuts to Medicaid and the expiration of tax credits for health insurance have caused the crisis.
In the Senate, the Republicans have 53 seats while Democrats hold 47. The Republicans have fallen 7 seats short of the 60 votes needed to pass legislation. On the other hand, Republicans hold 220 seats and Democrats hold 212 seats in the House of Representatives.
With the federal government’s fiscal year beginning on October 1, the short-term spending bill proposed by the Republicans funds federal operations through November 21. However, Senate Democrats have pushed for an alternative plan that would facilitate funding while addressing concerns over healthcare funding and tax credits.
The US shutdown will result in the temporary suspension of key services, including federal workers’ paychecks. The Donald Trump government has issued a warning to make permanent layoffs if the stalemate leads to shutdown. Trump also released a viral AI-generated “deepfake” video mocking Democratic leaders.
The standoff has led to a political blame game, with Vice President JD Vance accusing the Democrats of blocking the necessary funding bill. With midterm elections approaching, the pressure on both parties to find common ground is mounting with each passing hour.
The shutdown could shut down non-essential government agencies, and approximately 90,000 government employees could face the threat of layoffs or furloughs. The shutdown will also impact economic decision-making, further damaging the public’s trust in the Donald Trump government’s ability to govern effectively.
The USA had earlier witnessed a 35-day shutdown, the longest in US history, during Trump’s first term in December 2018. The US also experienced government shutdowns in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s under Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and Republican President Ronald Reagan.
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