Government Closure:
Who to Blame and the Effects
By Jones William
He Wants More Money
President Donald Trump’s government technically made a partial government closure at 0000 hours on 22 December 2018 for the third time. This was after the Senate failed to break a deadlock over the president’s call for a ridiculous amount of money to build a wall on our southern border. Trump promised a wall and Mexico would pay for it. Well that’s not happening, so Trump is now demanding $5 billion from the American taxpayer to fund his border wall or he will bluster and roar and continue the government closure.
Working Without Pay
The government closure is only a partial shutdown. Because Congress and Trump had earlier approved funding bills of $1.3 trillion for three-quarters for the operation of federal agencies. That meant that only some agencies would be shut after December 21, when funding ran out. Even so, the essential employees in those agencies will be required to continue reporting to work, knowing they will be working without pay until the government re-opens. This new partial government closure effects nearly a million government employees, their families, their creditors.
I’ll Take The Heat
President Trump told all of America he would be the one to blame for the government closure. He publicly declared before reporters in the Oval Office that he would be ‘proud’ to have a government shutdown. His sentiments were even echoed by Stephen Miller, the chief strategist of the Trump anti-immigrant policy. After the closure for 16 days in 2013, a poll by Washington Post-ABC News indicated that many Americans placed the responsibility for the stalemate in 2013 on Republicans not on Barack Obama.
Hiding Out
The prospect of another government closure was not welcomed by congressional Republicans, despite the GOP resistance, Trump ramped up his rhetoric. In fact, Senate Majority Leader McConnell expressed hopes that the partial closure could be avoided. McConnell’s request went unheeded. When Democratic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was sworn in on Jan. 3, 2019 she promised she would not even give one dollar for building the “immoral wall”.
His Manhood
In fact, she said, Trump foolishly has based “his manhood” on the building of the wall, drawing laughs from reporters. Furthermore, Pelosi described the president’s intent to have a government shut-down as political theater. According to every poll, Americans have figured the wall is exorbitantly expensive, useless, counterproductive and alienating Mexico, whose co-operation the United States needs for border security.
Slipping Away
At one point, Americans at least wanted to believe in their new president. But the investigations, the scandals, the lies, and the criminal indictments have taken the shine off of Trump’s presidency. And, now with a Trump temper tantrum on full display the ongoing government closure has dangerously frayed any remaining trust in the man. As the days stretch on, and National Parks are overflowing with garbage, Food Stamps are unavailable, and government workers go without pay Trump becomes more and more intolerable. The recent hammering the Republicans took in the mid-terms have made Trump more reckless than ever.
What Are The Effects Of Government Closure?
a) Non-essential Federal Offices Are Closed
At the Agriculture Department operating both local and state farm services are shut, which means that there are no staff available to answer questions or help farmers to engage in new programs as provided by the farm bill. The subsidy payments due to the tariff war will not be processed to needy farmers. National Parks are also affected as they stay open but most staff members have been sent home. Buildings like visitors’ centers and even restrooms are shuttered according to National Parks Conservation Association. More than thirty million businesses no longer receive technical assistance and federally assisted loans hence exposing small businesses to the risk of failing.
On Standby
Americans who are looking to buy new homes or refinance mortgages, which the Federal Housing Administration insures are now on standby. Homeland Security Department has partly shut down civil legal proceedings, victim payments and training for local and state law enforcement. Federal law enforcement officers remain at work. Security and Exchange Commission stops new investigations except for the ones needed for property protection.
Without Pay
It is believed about 400,000 federal employees will report to work without pay and more than 350,000 will be furloughed. The employees who report to work during the closure are paid retroactively when the government reopens and resumes payroll operations. According to Standard and Poor’s, the 16-day government closure in 2013 ultimately cost the government $24 billion.
b) Essential Federal Offices Will Be Not Closed
The military is considered essential and hence its operation continues even during the government closure. However, members of the military may not be paid for their service or receive military death benefits in full if they die in action during this time. That should be disturbing.
The postal service also continues its normal operation. The mail, Custom and Border Protection and Transport Safety Administration are considered essential services. Medicaid coverage and Medicare should go on unaffected.
A federal government closure does not affect state institutions or agencies, such as the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Last but not least, the Special Counsel Robert Mueller will go on with the investigation unimpeded.
What Next After the Government Closure?
Sincerely, without official funding legislation, the timeline for the closure is unknown. For now, Republican and Democratic lawmakers are still at a standstill and no team wants to relent. The Senate is stymied by Mitch McConnell’s refusal to bring any bill to the floor that Trump says he won’t sign. Democrats, have already begun passing separate bills and sending them to McConnell’s unresponsive door. The current hope is that in the Senate, Minority Leader Schumer can bring enough Republicans to the Democratic position and demand a vote. If that happens Trump’s power will be significantly damaged.
Offending Trump
It is not yet clear how the president is going to deliver himself from the state he has put himself into. Republicans have in the past refused to place legislation that had bipartisan agreement on the house for fear of inviting a veto and offending Trump.
Paycheck To Paycheck
David Cox, American Federation of Government Employees’ president recently released a statement asking the question; how are the members going to pay for food, gas and rent as they continue to work without getting their paycheck. Most federal employees, like the average American, lives paycheck to paycheck. These issues are distressing. The costs of living do not stop because of a government closure.
Ironically
Ironically, the Center for a Responsible Federal Budget, tells us that government closure is always more costly than keeping the government open. Which just proves how unethical and immoral Trump’s government closure is.
