The end of the weeks-long partial shutdown of US government operations is near. After the Senate, the DPR, the second chamber of parliament, also decided on a transition budget that will be in effect until the end of January. To officially end the longest government shutdown in US history, US President Donald Trump still has to sign a legislative package. According to the White House, this will happen on Wednesday evening (local time; Thursday 03.45 CET).
In the House of Representatives, where Republicans have a majority, 222 members approved the interim budget and 209 voted against it. Ultimately, there are also some supporters among the Democratic opposition.
As of October 1, the United States no longer has a federal budget and government operations are only functioning on a limited basis. Government workers are no longer receiving paychecks, food aid for many Americans has been cut and thousands of flights have been cancelled.
That’s why things have stalled
Trump’s Republican Party and the opposition Democrats have been locked in heated disputes over the issue for weeks Household. For this bill to pass in the US Senate, it will need a few votes from the Democratic Party who want to push forward the demands of health care for Americans.
It contains a tax credit for health insurance contributions for more than 20 million people which expires at the end of the year. The Democratic Party wants to expand these subsidies. Republicans oppose this, which is why many insured people are now threatened with double their monthly contributions.
Record closing
Given the highly polarized nature of US politics, a breakdown in government affairs is not unusual as the two sides are often unable to reach a timely agreement. But this is the longest shutdown in US history.
On Wednesday it was 43 days. The previous longest shutdown lasted 35 days at the turn of 2019 – that is, during Trump’s first term as president.
Breakthrough
Over the weekend, some Democratic representatives in the Senate finally gave in and helped Republicans get the necessary votes. Since then, the media has speculated why the Democratic Party changed course. In return, Republicans promised that health care costs would be decided in Congress in December. However, this initiative was considered almost hopeless in the House of Representatives, where the Republican Party also had a majority of votes.
Shutdown can happen again
If Trump signs a temporary budget, the government shutdown will end for now. The temporary budget is only valid until the end of January. If no regular budget is passed by then, there could be another shutdown starting in February.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251113-930-285476/2
