Amid rising pressure for both political parties to end the government shutdown, the White House has no immediate plans to accelerate negotiations. Surprisingly, there’s a noticeable lack of urgency from the administration to get lawmakers on the same page.
Since the government shutdown commenced nearly a month ago, President Trump hasn’t directly conversed with Democratic leaders. The administration seems to believe that Democrats have limited options, and they’re not hesitant to use agency communications to politically target those disrupting government functions.
In contrast, it appears that Trump enjoys steady support, as he continues to tackle various challenges without pause.
Typically, during government shutdowns, presidents attempt to minimize conflicts and assist lawmakers in forging a consensus to restore operations. Yet, observers note that Trump has no motivation to take that route.
A source close to Trump’s circle stated, “If you’re in the White House, there’s absolutely no gain in compromising. It makes no sense for him to involve himself in this.” Meanwhile, while Trump’s interaction with lawmakers has been minimal, discussions are largely happening among regular members of Congress. Leadership from both parties seems stuck at an impasse.
The ongoing federal government shutdown hit its fourth week, with the Senate attempting and failing for the 13th time to reopen. The House has been out of session for several weeks, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) affirming that lawmakers won’t reconvene unless the Senate resolves the deadlock.
Currently, the White House and Republicans are urging the passage of a “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government at existing levels through November. Officials are arguing that a few Senate Democrats could vote alongside Republicans to bring an end to the shutdown.
However, Democrats are hesitant, focusing on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire soon. Without this extension, millions of Americans could see their health insurance costs soar. They contend that it’s the Republicans’ responsibility to negotiate with them to break the deadlock.
In the meantime, the administration has taken steps to reduce key pressure points that might prompt lawmakers to negotiate. They’ve redirected funds from the Pentagon to pay military personnel and indicated plans to use customs revenue for vital nutrition programs for women and infants.
Still, Trump seems uninterested in the broader implications of the shutdown, or in whether public opinion might turn against him.
While the shutdown persists, the President has focused on the construction of the White House banquet hall. Notably, he held a dinner for donors who funded the hall, including leaders from major companies. Work on the ballroom started recently after demolishing part of the east wing.
Additionally, Trump has pursued two significant overseas trips to address foreign policy issues during the shutdown, including a recent trip to the Middle East and a forthcoming visit to Asia to negotiate a major trade deal.
One Republican strategist remarked, “He can still run the government. Ultimately, he’s achieving his goals. Deportations haven’t slowed; his policies are rolling out just fine.” This underscores how advantageous it can be for Trump to remain disengaged from shutdown negotiations.
A source indicated that the White House has no motivation to intervene, suggesting that Congressional Republicans might act, but not the White House itself.
Despite the standoff, government operations haven’t stalled. The Department of Homeland Security continues to implement strict deportation measures in various cities.
Furthermore, Trump’s budget secretary is working to eliminate or freeze funding for transportation and clean energy projects, particularly in areas that did not support him in the last election. Although a federal judge has halted layoffs, cuts to federal staffing remain a goal.
White House officials are optimistic that pressure on Democrats will mount as the shutdown extends toward November 1.
This week, the American Federation of Government Employees urged Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) noted that the union’s influence is significant, but no Democratic senators seem inclined to shift their stance.
Lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will start expiring on November 1, potentially causing flight delays at major airports due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
As the blame game unfolds, a recent Quinnipiac University Poll revealed that 45% of registered voters think Congressional Republicans are responsible for the shutdown, while 39% point fingers at Democrats. Interestingly, 11% believe both parties share the blame.
The same poll indicated that President Trump’s approval rating edged up to 40%, a slight increase from 38% before the shutdown began.
