US Government on Brink of Shutdown as Budget Stalemate Widens
The US government is on the brink of a shutdown due to a stalemate over the budget. With no budget or transitional budget passed, the government lacks funds, potentially leading to a halt in payments and closure of many offices and agencies.
The stand-off between Democrats and Republicans has widened, with Democrats pushing for healthcare demands and Republicans seeking more time for negotiations. A Republican draft for a temporary budget passed the House but was rejected by the Senate. If a shutdown occurs, non-essential federal employees may face forced leave, with salaries unpaid or unguaranteed retroactively. Essential workers, such as military personnel and air traffic controllers, will continue working unpaid, with salaries usually paid retroactively. A shutdown can cause significant disruption, including delays in application processing, closure of national parks, and flight delays, with estimated weekly costs of one billion US dollars. Congress members and the US President, however, will continue receiving their regular salaries. The longest shutdown in US history lasted over five weeks in 2018/2019. Congress must now find enough votes for a continuing resolution to keep the government running, as none of the twelve appropriation bills have been passed.
The US government's failure to pass a budget or transitional budget has brought the country to the edge of a shutdown. This could lead to widespread disruption and financial strain, with non-essential employees bearing the brunt. Congress must act swiftly to prevent this and pass a continuing resolution to keep the government functioning.
