While it seems like a whirlwind, the US government stopped functioning normally 38 days ago. The financing of the Executive depends on the periodic renewal of a spending law by Congress. The precedent expired on October 1st due to the refusal of the Democrats to cast their vote on an issue that under normal conditions would be a mere procedure. The so-called shutdown of the administration is already the longest in history due to the servility of Republican lawmakers towards Donald Trump and their absolute refusal to negotiate with the Democrats, encouraged in their strategy by the good results of this week’s elections.
Almost all spending authorizations, including those from the Executive Branch, require 60 votes out of 100 – the Republicans have 53 – to be approved in the Senate, which gives ‘de facto’ veto power to the minority. Both parties have used this power to influence the White House’s policy priorities, but always as a short-term gesture of opposition and subject to specific demands, since voters do not accept it being used as a block to the system. A government shutdown means stopping payroll payments to 750,000 federal employees. It’s readily apparent in places like national parks, for example, as staff return home. As it affects more public services, nervousness spreads to industries and markets. The severity of the situation became clear on Thursday when the Transport Authority announced a 10% reduction in flights into the country. Likewise, Trumpism intends to take advantage of this situation to cut funding for food stamps that 41 million people receive.
The Democratic Party suffered an internal rift when it passed the current executive spending bill last March. The leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer, thought that the new Republican government could not be blocked from its inception because it would be interpreted as childish revenge for the electoral defeat. Responsibility prevailed, but part of his party considered it a humiliation. Today it is clear that this is not a republican government, but something else. Trump’s authoritarian assault is demolishing the balance of power and destroying the lives of people because of the color of their skin. It is legitimate for Democrats to use what little power they have to stop him.
But what makes this closure different is the US president’s contempt for institutions. Donald Trump, an admirer of autocrats, understands power only as a system in which his wishes are carried out instantly and without question, be they tariffs, assassinations of alleged suspects abroad, or mass deportations. When he received the Democratic leaders at the White House, instead of proposing an honest negotiation, he offended them with a racist joke. Democrats are aware that citizens will not tolerate damage to the economy caused by pure politics; the only thing they ask for in order to vote is that health insurance subsidies not be eliminated, which has broad support. If they find an outstretched hand, they must keep their word and surrender. But instead of negotiating, Trump asked Republicans to change the historic majority rule to prevail. Citizens begin to suffer in their pockets for the fragile ego of their president in the face of any difficulty. Many factors have contributed to this closure, but Trump is solely responsible for this entrenchment. And its long-term consequences.
