Out of money, Trump's government paralyzed
Despite bipartisan negotiations down to the minute, the US Senate could not agree on a new budget, forcing the government to shut down on January 20.
This is the first time in US history that a government shutdown has occurred while only one party controls both houses of Congress and the White House.
The developments mean many government offices and services will be shut down until the budget is passed. National parks and monuments may also be closed.
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| The US government has been shut down since January 20 due to lack of money. (Photo: Reuters) |
However, essential services remain normal, including national security, postal services, air traffic control, disaster relief, prisons, taxes and electricity.
Previously, on the evening of January 18, the bill to extend the budget until February was passed by the House of Representatives with a ratio of 230-197. However, this bill failed to pass the Senate when it only reached a ratio of 50-49, not reaching the number of 60/100 votes in favor.
The main point of contention is Democrats’ demand that more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the country as children be protected from deportation. These people, known as “Dreamers,” have been granted temporary legal status under a program created by former President Barack Obama. Trump announced in September that he would end the program and give Congress until March to replace it with another one.
The last time the US government shut down was in 2013, for 16 days. At that time, Republicans used similar tactics to force President Barack Obama’s government to shut down. At the time, Mr. Trump claimed that the person most responsible for the shutdown was the president himself.
This time, Mr. Trump, as President, criticized Democrats for prioritizing "illegal immigrants" over military issues or border security.
