US President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill in the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, ending the longest shutdown in US history. Earlier in the day, the bill was passed in the House of Representatives.
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How long did the shutdown last?
What problems resulted from the shutdown?
What did Donald Trump promise after signing the bill?
Who was responsible for the government financing impasse?
The president emphasized that after he signs the document, the American government will return to normal operations. The work paralysis of most federal agencies lasted almost 43 days – from October 1.
Trump, accompanied by Republican congressmen at the ceremony, said that “people have been greatly harmed” because of the shutdown. He informed that 20 thousand flights were canceled or delayed. He also mentioned problems with access to food stamps for the poorest and federal employees who were put on forced leave or worked without receiving wages. Some employees were also dismissed.
Donald Trump blames Democrats. “Don't forget what they did”
The president also said that the Democrats, whom he blames for the shutdown, “look very bad” and that they tried to “extort” the US.
The Trump administration is trying to portray the shutdown as solely the Democrats' fault. However, Americans – according to the AP-NORC survey – blame both parties.
“I just want to tell the American people that you shouldn't forget this when it comes to the midterm elections and other things,” Trump told voters, referring to next year's midterm elections. “Don't forget what they did to our country,” Trump added.
He also called on Republican senators to stop using the parliamentary tactic of delaying or blocking the legislative process in the chamber (filibuster). The procedure in force in the Senate assumes that the threshold of 60 votes must be exceeded to pass the bill.
The longest paralysis in US history
The deadlock on the government financing project was broken thanks to a compromise reached between Republicans and eight Democratic senators. The adopted package assumes the extension of government financing until the end of January and year-round funding for some government agencies. It also includes the reversal of mass layoffs of federal employees that occurred after October 1 and a guarantee of payment of wages to employees who did not receive them due to the shutdown.
Before the end of the year, a vote on the restoration of health insurance subsidies is also scheduled to take place, but it has not been guaranteed that such subsidies will be provided, and this is what the Democrats fought for primarily.
This is the longest paralysis of federal agencies in US history. This year's shutdown broke the previous record set in 2018, also during Trump's presidency, when the impasse lasted 34 days.
