The historic US shutdown is over: Congress and Trump reach agreement
13 November 05:55
The United States has ended the longest government shutdown in the country’s history. The House of Representatives of the US Congress approved the budget funding bill, which was previously supported by the Senate, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing the BBC.
Voting in Congress
222 congressmen voted in favor of the document, 209 voted against.
Although there were enough Republican votes to pass the bill, six Democrats supported the bill, making the victory more convincing.
Thus, the US government shutdown, which lasted more than a month and became the longest in the country’s modern history, is finally coming to an end.
What the law provides for
The new law provides for the resumption of funding for federal agencies, which was suspended due to political disputes between the Republican and Democratic parties.
Despite the compromise, the Democrats failed to get the law to include guarantees of the continuation of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), for which they had been fighting throughout the shutdown.
The document only states that the healthcare issue will be put to a separate vote in December.
Trump will sign the law live
According to sources in Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump plans to sign the bill live on national television. The White House sees this as a symbolic gesture to emphasize the administration’s “effectiveness” in overcoming the government crisis.
What is a shutdown?
A shutdown is a temporary suspension of the work of some government agencies in the United States due to the lack of an approved budget. During it, hundreds of thousands of civil servants do not receive salaries, and government programs and services are partially or completely suspended.
The longest in history
This shutdown has become the longest since its introduction in the 1970s. It resulted in significant financial losses for the US economy and caused political tensions in Washington.
The next step is the president’s signature, after which federal agencies will be able to resume full operations.
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Why the threat of a shutdown arose this time
This time, the shutdown occurred because of a political conflict between the Republican majority in the Senate and House of Representatives and the Democratic Party, which refused to support the budget without additional conditions.
In the Senate, the Republican bill that would have avoided the budget crisis failed at the last minute. The document garnered only 55 votes, while the rules of procedure require a minimum of 60 votes for adoption.
The non-standard majority requirement forces Donald Trump’s associates to negotiate with Democrats. However, there is no compromise: the opposition is demanding increased spending on health insurance programs, while the ruling party rejects these amendments.
How long do shutdowns last?
Government shutdowns in the United States are not a new phenomenon.
- In 2018-2019, during Donald Trump’s term in office, the shutdown lasted 35 days, which is a record.
- In 1995, under Bill Clinton, it lasted 21 days,
- In 2013, under Barack Obama, it lasted 16 days.
- Ronald Reagan’s presidency had the most shutdowns – eight, but they were all short-lived.
How does this affect the economy?
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the shutdown could cost the U.S. economy up to $400 million a day due to the shutdown of federal agencies.
At the same time, members of Congress will continue to receive their salaries, as provided for by the US Constitution. The military will continue to work, but their pay will be postponed until the shutdown is over.
For example, in 2018-2019, the shutdown resulted in $11 billion in losses.
