Shutdown Paralyzes US Government Operations
The United States has entered a new shutdown — the federal government officially ceased operations due to a lack of funding. A special timer appeared on the White House website, counting the duration of the crisis.
The reason was irreconcilable differences between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare and the budget. The parties failed to reach a compromise on time, leading to a complete halt in government financing.
According to authorities, about 4 million Americans working in public service have temporarily lost their pay. Most federal agencies and departments suspended operations, with the exception of critical areas — defense, law enforcement, and healthcare.
The last shutdown of such scale occurred from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, and became the longest in US history, lasting 35 days. Today’s crisis is being compared to that event, though experts warn that the current situation may prove even more painful due to the scale of consequences and overall political instability.
President Donald Trump previously stated that his administration intends to use the shutdown to review staffing policy and cut part of the civil service. According to him, the White House views the government halt as an opportunity to eliminate programs Republicans consider ineffective or unnecessary.
The situation has sparked wide public resonance: Democrats accuse Republicans of sabotage and destroying social programs, while Trump supporters see the development as a step toward reforming the state apparatus.
It is expected that the standoff in Congress will drag on, and millions of Americans will remain without pay until the parties reach a compromise.