Shutdown of US government mars Trump’s anniversary
▶ Republicans, with majorities in both houses, and Democrats trade blame
On the first anniversary of president Donald Trump’s swearing in, Republicans and Democrats are blaming each other for the shutdown of the US government.
Mr Trump and congress failed to reach a deal on funding for federal agencies, prompting the shutdown of the government.
In Twitter posts early yesterday, Mr Trump blamed the Democrats.
“This is the one year anniversary of my presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present,” he said.
“Democrats are far more concerned with illegal immigrants than they are with our great military or safety at our dangerous southern border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play shutdown politics instead.”
For the first time since October 2013, when a standoff that lasted 16 days kept only essential agencies’ operations intact, federal workers were being told to stay at home or in some cases to work without pay until funding is approved.
But Mr Trump’s inability to cut a deal despite having a Republican majority in both houses of congress marks arguably the most debilitating setback for his crisis-plagued administration.
Democrats had insisted that the bill to renew government funding also contain permanent protections for about 700,000 young, undocumented immigrants who were taken illegally into the US as children.
Last week, Mr Trump rejected a bipartisan senate deal that would have accomplished that, as well as hand the White House $2.7 billion in new money for immigration enforcement.
The shutdown was cemented when the senate, meeting late into Friday night, blocked a bill to maintain the federal government’s funding through to February 16.
The vote was 50-49, well short of the 60 needed in the 100-member chamber to defeat the procedural hurdle.
Four Republicans joined most Democrats in killing the measure. A fifth Republican, senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, voted “no” too, but only as part of a parliamentary manoeuvre to make it easier to bring another bill to the floor.
The breakdown ended a long day of closed-door meetings in congress and at the White House.
Even as they promised to work to have the government back up again as soon as possible, Republicans and Democrats blamed each other for the predicament.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said his party took significant steps to reach a deal, which included raising the possibility of funding for Mr Trump’s proposed wall along the US border with Mexico, which they have ardently opposed.
“It’s almost as if you were rooting for a shutdown,” Mr Schumer said in comments on the senate floor aimed directly at the president.
Republican and Democratic leaders were expected to renew negotiations overnight in the hope of restoring government financing before tomorrow.
The impact of the government shutdown was also eased by its timing, starting on a weekend when most government employees usually do not work.
But the defence department said its combat operations in Afghanistan and other countries would continue, while federal law enforcement officers would also remain on duty.
Without a quick deal, most day-to-day operations in the government will be disrupted. Hundreds of thousands of public employees will be put on temporary unpaid leave, including many of the White House’s 1,700 workers.
Mr Trump’s administration said it planned to keep national parks open with rangers and security guards on duty.
The parks were closed during the last shutdown in 2013, upsetting many tourists and resulting in the loss of $500 million in visitor spending in areas around the parks and at the Smithsonian museums.
No one is likely to be on hand, for instance, to wind the 200year old Ohio Clock outside the senate chambers. Many capitol maintenance workers were also told to stay at home.
The shutdown will have more serious consequences from tomorrow as government employees from financial regulators and tax collectors to civilian staff at the Pentagon will have to stay away from work.
Early yesterday, Mr McConnell offered another plan. Instead of the February 16 end date for the temporary spending bill, he proposed February 8.
Senate Democrats had argued this week for an extension of four or five days to force both sides into negotiations on immigration.