US Shutdown Set to Drag On as Trump Turns Up the Heat

The US government shutdown is edging into its third week, and there’s still no sign of a deal. Senators shot down another Republican-backed funding bill on Thursday, even after Donald Trump tried to publicly strong-arm Democrats into backing it.

With federal agencies unfunded since 1 October, public services across the country are sputtering or stalled. Congress has held vote after vote to try to reopen government departments, but nothing has passed and now, the Senate has packed up until next Tuesday. That means at least a few more days of deadlock.

Trump’s Pressure Tactics Fall Flat

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Trump laid the blame squarely at Democrats’ feet, accusing them of inflicting “pain and suffering” on American families, from military members to air traffic controllers and low-income households.

But his threats, including cutting social programmes popular with Democratic voters and firing thousands of furloughed government workers, haven’t convinced the opposition to support the GOP’s proposal. That plan would only fund the government until late November, buying more time for talks. Democrats want a longer-term deal that protects health care subsidies due to expire on 31 December.

According to CNN, Democrats are already preparing for the standoff to drag on well into the coming weeks.

750,000 Workers Unpaid and Troop Salaries at Risk

Roughly 750,000 federal employees are currently “furloughed,” meaning they’re off work without pay. A bigger crisis is looming next Wednesday: active-duty military personnel could miss their paycheques if no deal is reached.

A bipartisan bill in the House hopes to prevent that by guaranteeing payment for 1.3 million service members during the shutdown. Around 150 lawmakers across party lines have co-sponsored it, but Republican leaders don’t want to bring it to a vote. Their argument? The military would be paid if Democrats simply help end the shutdown.

“The President has made it clear: we must pay our troops,” said the bill’s sponsor, Republican congresswoman Jen Kiggans, in a post on X.

Democrats Stay Calm and Confident

Democratic leaders believe time is on their side. Polls reportedly show that most voters blame Republicans for the shutdown, and party insiders think public support will only grow the longer it lasts.

“Every day gets better for us,” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Punchbowl News. He said the party anticipated this fight months ago and expected health care to be the main weapon.

“Their whole theory was threaten us, bamboozle us, and we would submit in a day or two,” Schumer said.

Trump Promises “Maximum Pain”

In true Trump fashion, the former president has escalated his rhetoric rather than dialling back. He’s vowed to slash programmes he considers “Democrat favourites” as part of a “maximum pain” strategy if negotiations don’t go his way.

“We’ll be cutting some very popular Democrat programs that aren’t popular with Republicans,” he said. “They wanted to do this, so we’ll give them a little taste of their own medicine.”

His team is also floating the possibility of sacking furloughed federal workers if Democrats don’t fold.

No End in Sight

With Congress adjourned and neither side blinking, the shutdown now has the potential to become one of the longest in recent US history.

For millions of Americans relying on federal services, from veterans and government employees to families receiving food assistance, the cost is growing by the day.

And while Trump is gambling on pressure politics, Democrats appear willing to wait him out.

The coming week will reveal whether “maximum pain” breaks the gridlock or deepens it.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com