On Wed. Oct. 23, the government shutdown reached 22 days, becoming the second-longest in history. It follows only the 35-day shutdown in Dec. 2018 during President Trump’s first term, which was largely driven by his $5.6 billion request for a border wall. The shutdown currently numbers 34 days.
A government shutdown occurs when either Congress fails to pass, or the President declines to sign a spending bill to fund federal operations, according to congress.gov. During a shutdown, many federal agencies lose funding and must reduce services.
According to WLKY.com, the current disagreement centers on Democrats’ efforts to preserve subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which aims to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. If these subsidies expire, an estimated 24 million people could see their healthcare costs double. On the other hand, Republicans believe that the government should reopen before discussions on healthcare policy continue.
A Quinnipiac University National Poll found that 45% of registered voters say congressional Republicans are responsible for the government shutdown, while 39% think congressional Democrats are responsible, and 11% volunteered that they hold both parties equally accountable.
For many Americans, the shutdown has meant the loss of a job, paycheck or federal benefits. Federal workers are expected to miss their first paycheck of the shutdown on Friday, Oct. 24, according to cnn.com, which reported that more than 4,000 federal employees have received layoff notices.
The layoffs span the Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Energy and Homeland Security, according to bbc.com, depicting a broad national impact. Essential workers, such as law enforcement and air traffic controllers, continue to work without pay, while nonessential employees remain on unpaid leave.
The shutdown also impacts schools and students. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are expected to lose funding by Nov 1. Although free and reduced-cost lunches continue for now, their long-term funding is uncertain because of layoffs within the United States Department of Agriculture.
According to thehill.com, about 95% of Department of Education employees have been furloughed, halting civil rights investigations and reducing school funding. This has led to less oversight, fewer research initiatives and limited data collection.
Still, most education funding had already been distributed before the shutdown, so schools face minimal disruption in day-to-day schedules, pbs.org reported. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) continues to be processed.
This shutdown has additionally raised controversy about potential violations of the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal programs from being administered in a partisan manner.
Critics argue that statements posted on official government websites—such as the White House homepage reading “Democrats Have Shut Down the Government” and the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s message blaming “The Radical Left in Congress” violate the Hatch Act. Others feel that the language does not reference a specific candidate or election and thus does not violate the act.
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which decides on complaints alleging Hatch Act violations, is operating at limited capacity due to the shutdown and therefore cannot investigate potential cases, according to thehill.com.
On Nov. 5, the shutdown is set to become the longest in history. As the shutdown reaches its 35th day, signs are uncertain for the future. The Senate may feel additional pressure from air traffic controllers and the military as they miss their first paycheck since the shutdown started, according to CNN.com, but the Senate shows no sign of exiting their deadlock.
