Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – The record for the longest federal government shutdown in US history was broken on November 5th, reaching 36 days. With neither party in Congress showing any willingness to compromise, this record is expected to continue to be broken.
On November 4th, the US Senate attempted to advance a temporary funding bill that had already passed the House of Representatives for the 14th time, but failed to obtain the required 60 votes in the procedural vote. The empty House of Representatives has been in recess for 46 days since its proceedings were suspended in September.
According to USA Today, in the past 50 years, with the exception of the Bush and Biden administrations, every US government has experienced a shutdown of at least several days. The previous record for the longest shutdown occurred during Trump's first term, lasting 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019.
Compared to the shutdown seven years ago caused by partisan disagreements over border wall construction, the current US government shutdown is more complex, involving not only Medicare subsidy policy but also deadlocked negotiations on funding amounts, foreign aid cuts, and policy supplementary clauses. Although Republicans control both the Senate and the House of Representatives, their 53-47 majority is insufficient to pass the 60-vote threshold needed to advance most legislation.
The Washington Post commented that the most direct trigger for this longest shutdown in history was the Democrats' demand for Congress to extend Medicare subsidy funding, and behind the disagreement lies the two parties' unwillingness to compromise on future policy direction. "In the past, there was a possibility of compromise, but now that mentality of compromise has disappeared among supporters of both sides."
Since August, the US job market has shown signs of weakness. A recent report by the US Chamber of Commerce estimated that the shutdown has not only forced hundreds of thousands of federal employees to take unpaid leave but also puts 65,000 small contractors at risk of payment disruptions, with $12 billion in payments affected in October alone.
The full impact of the government shutdown on the US economy has not yet materialized. According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, although the impact on overall US economic data may be offset by January, depending on its duration, it will still cause permanent losses of approximately $7 billion to $14 billion.
Earlier on the 4th, Senate Democrats held a closed-door meeting lasting several hours. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, stated that despite the increasing length of the shutdown, Democrats insisted on extending funding for Medicare subsidies as a bargaining chip. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, stated that this is not only the longest shutdown in history but also "the most devastating shutdown in history."
Amid the partisan deadlock in Congress, the White House has remained on the sidelines. President Trump stated that he would refuse to negotiate on Medicare subsidies until Democrats agreed to reopen the government.
According to The Hill, with the funding extension deadline set in the temporary funding bill fast approaching, both parties in Congress are exploring the possibility of advancing legislation in small, incremental steps. For example, splitting funding programs already supported by both parties, such as agriculture and the military, into separate votes could ensure the partial resumption of federal government operations.
The spillover effects of the shutdown are also forcing both parties to reach a compromise as soon as possible. CNN reported that November is the peak season for health insurance renewals and Thanksgiving travel. Soaring insurance prices and widespread holiday flight delays could become "X factors" that push the two parties to the negotiating table. (End)
