The White House economic advisor, Kevin Hassett, stated this Monday that it is US government shutdown “likely”which has been going on for 20 days, will come to an end this week. The statement reinforces the expectation of a possible agreement in Congress after weeks of political tension and protests in the streets.
Hassett noted: “I think Schumer’s shutdown is likely to end sometime this week.”in reference to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. According to the official, several senators from both parties believe that the political climate could improve after the last few days of national demonstrations.
In an interview with CNBC, who also heads the National Economic Council, explained that his “friends in the Senate” They considered that it was “bad optics for the Democrats to open the Government before the rallies.” ‘No Kings’ ” and that, after the protests, “Now there is a chance that this week things will be fixed.”
What does it mean that a government is closed?
The shutdown of the government in the United States, known as government shutdown, occurs when Congress does not approve the federal budget or a temporary financing law on time before the start of the new fiscal year, on October 1. In this scenario, the Constitution It prevents the State from spending money without a law that authorizes it.
As a consequence, great part of government activities are paralyzed. National parks operate with reduced staff, airports suffer delays due to the lack of air traffic controllers and thousands of public employees are sent home without salary, without knowing when they will be paid again or if they will receive payment for the time worked.
eff6276b0c12f33dd923db6f6075c130
Then-President Donald Trump took advantage of the closure to promote cuts in public administrationwith some 4,100 layoffs concentrated in the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services. However, a federal judge in San Francisco ordered stop these unemployment during the closure.
The political dispute behind this crisis pits Republicans and Democrats over Obamacare health subsidies, which progressives demand to maintain before negotiating any budget extension. Meanwhile, government paralysis is getting closer to becoming the longest in the history of the country.
Who is affected by the government shutdown in the US?
The impact of the closure spreads throughout the country. Iconic tourist places such as Statue of Liberty and the National Mall in Washington remain closedwhile national parks such as Yosemite or Yellowstone operate with minimum services. At airports, delays are constant due to the staff shortagesince many air traffic controllers chose to not showing up for work because they do not receive their salaries.
statue of liberty
On the tax front, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) temporarily laid off more than 34,000 employeesright in the middle of tax filing season. “The tax returns will arrive, but there will be no one to process them”warned María Ramos, president of the National Union of Treasury Employees in Austin, Texas.
In total, around 600,000 federal workers are suspended from employment and payand others continue in functions without pay. Trump, for his part, questioned the retroactive payment of back wages, even though the law establishes that they must be paid once the Government reopens.
Yolanda Jacobs, a specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), summed up the sentiment of many employees: “We have never before had a shutdown where federal employees were used as bargaining chips.” While awaiting a political solution, thousands of American families are adjusting expenses and facing growing economic uncertainty.
no kings protest
Courtesy: BBC
“No Kings”: on the seventeenth day of the “shutdown” of his government, Donald Trump once again faced a day of mobilizations against him
A protest against the president donald trump It started in the city of New York this Saturday. It is the first of more than 2,500 demonstrations organized from coast to coast throughout USA during the day under the title of “No Kings” (“Without Kings”, in Spanish).
Thousands of people filled Times Square for the event organized by opposition groups gathered under the name “No Kings.” In previous editions – in June of this year, for example – They gathered more than five million people throughout the country.
no king protests
Courtesy: BBC
Trump allies accused protesters of be allied with the far-left movement Antifa and they condemned what they called “the manifestation of hatred” to the country.
Republican governors in several states have put the National Guard on alert, but it is unclear how visible the military presence will be.
Source: Ambito
