Government Shutdown Enters Fifth Week with Limited Progress
The government shutdown has now reached its fifth week in Washington, and even with multiple deadlines to compensate federal employees, there has been minimal movement towards a resolution.
This week, the Senate is set to vote once more on a plan to reopen the government that had previously passed in the House. However, a continuing resolution (CR) has failed to progress on 12 separate occasions.
As expected, the bill to keep the government running until November 21 is likely to face another setback. The same disagreements that sparked the shutdown nearly a month ago still linger.
Democrats Spotlight Obamacare Amid Ongoing Shutdown
Senate Democrats, under the leadership of Chuck Schumer from New York, are pushing for a solid agreement to extend expired Obamacare subsidies. In contrast, Senate Republicans prefer to tackle this issue only after the government is back up and running.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed skepticism about the Democrats’ motivations, suggesting their stance isn’t genuinely centered on health care. “It’s politics,” he stated. He emphasized that, if health care were the real concern, Democrats would support a clean CR to swiftly reopen the government.
In the meantime, deadlines for payments to air traffic controllers and military personnel are approaching, alongside a potential funding gap for federal nutrition assistance programs.
Air traffic controllers have received partial payment earlier this month but will not be expecting their first complete salary until Tuesday.
Republicans Seek New Spending Strategy Amid Fiscal Uncertainty
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz has proposed a bill aimed at addressing the funding gap, which is anticipated to be voted on this week. However, Thune has not yet taken decisive action regarding this proposal.
Additionally, October 31 marks another payday for military personnel. Although President Trump secured billions earlier this month to cover salaries, that funding may not suffice for the upcoming pay period.
Senator Ron Johnson’s bill, intended to ensure payment for military members and certain federal employees, was blocked by Senate Democrats last week. However, efforts are ongoing between Johnson and Senator Chris Van Hollen to introduce a revised version of this bill. Van Hollen attempted to initiate discussions regarding payments for federal workers and soldiers, but faced obstruction.
He and other Senate Democrats have cautioned that Johnson’s proposal could grant the Trump administration undue discretion over payments for federal employees.
Rising Concerns Over Federal Employee Funding
Van Hollen remarked, “No federal employee, military member, or contractor should have to suffer due to this shutdown.” He is focused on ensuring that these individuals receive their owed compensation.
Moreover, food stamp funding is projected to deplete by November 1, coinciding with the start of the new Obamacare enrollment period.
The shutdown has also tested the unity among Senate Democrats, facing pressure from external allies who have contributed significantly to Democratic campaigns. The American Federation of Government Employees, representing over 800,000 workers, has urged Democrats to accept the Republicans’ clean CR proposal and get the government back on track.
Union President Everett Kelly emphasized the immediate need to reopen the government without additional partisan hurdles, advocating that all affected federal employees should be compensated for their work or furloughs during the shutdown.
He stressed, “When those who serve our country are left waiting for paychecks while they stand in line at food banks, they’re not focused on political agendas. They just want the wages they’ve earned.” He called for a responsive government that honors its commitments to workers and pays them on time.
