The Long Weekend: Federal Government Shutdown
Over the weekend, the federal government shut down. Though it officially reopened on Tuesday, the shutdown–which has only happened 18 times in all of American history–illustrates the deep divide that exists between Democrats and Republicans in Congress. It also lleaves many Americans feeling frustrated by a legislative branch that seems unwilling to compromise in order to move forward with the important business of the nation.
Why Did the Government Shut Down?
The federal government is funded by laws, which are voted on by Congress. These spending bills require a 60-vote supermajority, rather than a simple majority, to pass in the Senate. This means that at least nine Democrats needed to vote for last week’s spending bill, as well as all Republicans, in order for it to pass. But Democrats (and some Republicans) refused to vote for it unless the Republicans agreed to come up with a new plan to replace DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival). Trump canceled DACA in September, meaning that “Dreamers” could start being deported as soon as March. When the Republicans didn’t produce new legislation protecting immigration, Democrats voted against the spending bill. The bill failed. At midnight on Friday, the federal government officially shut down.
A Long Weekend
The government remained closed for three days. During that time, hundreds of thousands of “nonessential” federal employees were sent home, while the rest, those employees considered “essential”–such as military, law enforcement, and air traffic controllers–remained. Republicans attacked Democrats in the press, blaming them for being unwilling to compromise. They nicknamed the shutdown the “Schumer Shutdown” for Senate minority leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer.
On Monday, facing intense public criticism, the Democrats reluctantly agreed to a temporary funding bill, though only under the condition that Republican leaders will address immigration and other controversial issues soon. The measure was quickly approved by the House of Representatives and then signed by President Trump, reopening the federal government.
Federal workers returned to their jobs on Tuesday. But the fact that the Democrats gave in to Republican pressure infuriated many liberals, who referred to the reopening of the federal government as the “Schumer Sellout.” Activists criticized Democratic representatives for failing to stand up for immigrants.
So Where Do We Go From Here?
Now that federal employees have returned to work, many are wondering if they will have to face another government shutdown in the near future. The temporary spending measure that the Democrats reluctantly agreed to is just that–temporary. It will expire on February 8. When that happens, if Republicans and Democrats haven’t managed to come to an agreement yet on spending and immigration, it’s likely that we will face the same scenario all over again.