US Government Shutdown: Stalemate Deepens Amid Blame Game and Mounting Losses

US Government Shutdown: A Crisis Continues

The US government shutdown entered its 35th day on Tuesday, matching the record set during President Trump's first term. Congressional Republicans and Democrats continue to trade accusations, hindering any resolution to the crisis.

Mounting Losses

Poor families have seen food assistance programs disrupted, federal employees and military personnel are working without pay, and the lack of government data is hindering economic decision-making. Temporary funding bills passed by the House have been rejected more than ten times in the Senate, reflecting the rigid stances of congressional members.

Although Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, passing any legislation requires the support of at least seven Democrats to reach the 60-vote threshold. Democrats are refusing to vote for bills unless healthcare subsidies are extended.

Senator John Thune, the Senate's Republican leader, stated on Monday: "The victims of the Democratic shutdown are piling up, and the question is how long will they keep going? A month? Two months? Three months?"

In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized President Trump for being distracted by other matters, stating: "While Trump is flaunting the renovation of the White House bathroom, Americans are panicking about next year's healthcare costs."

An Unprecedented Shutdown

Political polarization in recent decades has led to frequent government shutdowns, but this shutdown, the 15th since 1981, is not only remarkably long but has also upended the traditional pattern of partisan bargaining, where shutdowns were mostly initiated by Republicans.

Additionally, efforts to end the shutdown are minimal. The House has adjourned since September 19, and Trump has left Washington multiple times.

Rachel Snyderman, Managing Director of Economic Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, argues that "the deep political rifts that emerged at the beginning of the shutdown remain despite ongoing negotiations between the parties to date."

Approximately 42 million Americans relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) went without food on Saturday, and many families lost their monthly food stamps worth approximately $180.

Jason Riggs, director of the Roadrunner Food Bank in New Mexico, alongside Democratic Senator Martin Heinrich, stated: "The current situation is unprecedented, and many people are living in fear."

Some "Head Start" projects, early education programs for low-income children, have also been closed due to the lack of new funding as of November 1.

Negative Impacts

The lack of pay for law enforcement officers, military personnel, airport security, and air traffic controllers has led to staff shortages and flight delays. Airline data shows that over 3.2 million passengers have been affected since the shutdown began.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that continuing the shutdown for another week will cost the US economy $11 billion. The lack of federal data makes it difficult for the Federal Reserve to accurately assess the employment and economic situation when setting policies.

The largest union of federal employees, the "National Federation of Federal Government Employees," called for the passage of a temporary funding bill, but Democrats opposed it.

Trump's Attempts to Test Boundaries

During the shutdown, Trump focused on foreign affairs such as Gaza, Russia, and Asia, but recently took a tough stance, demanding that Republicans abolish the filibuster rule requiring 60 votes in the Senate.

When asked if he could reach an agreement, Trump told CBS's "60 Minutes" last Sunday: "I will not be blackmailed by misguided Democrats."

The latest polls show that 50% of Americans believe Republicans bear the primary responsibility, while 43% blame Democrats.

Three moderate Democratic senators have joined the ranks of those supporting the reopening of the government, believing that the immediate harm of the shutdown outweighs the long-term benefits.

Some Democrats insist on demanding concessions from Republicans, in order to reaffirm Congress's power of financial appropriations against Trump's executive overreach.

New Jersey Democratic Representative Andy Kim said in an interview: "Trump's actions have created a deficit of trust for a long time. The challenge now is: even if an agreement is reached, how do we ensure it is effectively implemented?"