Negotiations Break Down Over U.S. Government Funding: Shutdown and Political Crisis Persist
In Washington, yet another setback has occurred in efforts to restore the functioning of the American government.
The bill aimed at ending the three-day shutdown and funding federal agencies until November 21 was rejected again in the Senate after unsuccessful political negotiations between the two main parties.
Over five days, Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a compromise on budget conditions, leaving tens of thousands of federal employees and business structures in forced leave due to government shutdown.
Senate Republican leader John Thune was unable to garner Democratic support for finalizing temporary funding without additional conditions.
As a result, the vote, which passed with a margin of 54 to 44, fell short of the 60 votes needed for approval.
Most backing was from only three Democratic Senators, while Rand Paul was the only Republican opposing.
Leaders of both parties attempted to navigate the situation, promising to discuss extending COVID-19 subsidies under the ACA law, which expire at year’s end.
Democrats insist that these subsidies should be a mandatory part of the short-term budget.
Meanwhile, Thune admitted that predicting a resolution date is currently impossible.
It was hoped that agreements could be finalized if 8–9 Democrats supported the plan, but the process stalled the following day due to Chuck Schumer’s call to withhold support until Republicans agree on tax break concessions.
The shutdown is already costing the U.S.
economy about a billion dollars weekly and adversely affecting long-term economic prospects.
Before the vote, Thune again appealed to wavering Democrats, claiming only a few extra votes were needed — and that 55 senators already support the short-term funding resolution without political strings attached.
Democrats introduced their own budget proposal extending funding until October 31, but it also failed to garner sufficient votes, being rejected with a result of 46 to 52, opening a new chapter in the political fight in the U.S.
Congress.