Photo courtesy of: Istock.com US Capital Building
The U.S. government has now been shut down for 38 days, making it the longest government shutdown in American history.
“A government shutdown occurs when the republicans and democrats are unable to come to an agreement on a budget, ” says Attorney Tamara Felton Howard, owner of Felton-Howard Law Firm in St.Petersburg, Florida.
On Oct 1. When the previous federal budget expired, a standoff between Republican and Democratic lawmakers began in Congress.
Although US politics is no stranger to disagreements surrounding budgets, this particular shutdown was a culmination of tension. Josiah Washington, a second-year Bio/Pre-Dental student from Palatka, FL, said he feels this tension in response to President Trump’s drastic reduction of the national government after returning to office in January.
“The reason why Congress felt very comfortable shutting down the government and not agreeing with the budget is because they knew the lack of favor that the president already has,” Washington said.
Republicans are accusing Democrats of prolonging the shutdown, while Democrats claim they are trying to protect the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire soon. In a recent interview with 60 Minutes President Trump expressed his thoughts on the matter.
“The Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it,” Trump said. “You know, they’ve never had this. This has happened like 18 times before. The Democrats always voted for an extension, always saying, ‘Give us an extension, we’ll work it out.’
Emanuel Rouson, son of Florida Senator Darryl Rouson and second -year legal scholar at The Florida A&M College of Law, describes the effect the shutdown is having on American citizens.
“The shutdown doesn’t just impact those who depend on federal assistance programs; it affects everyone in some way,” Rouson said. “Many federal workers are furloughed, national parks and museums close, business loans are delayed, and even air travel can slow down due to reduced staffing,” Rouson said.
Florida A&M University students express their thoughts, concerns, and personal impact from the government shutdown.
“I personally have family members who aren’t working right now. The fact that it has gone on over a month is insane,” said Shayla Jones, a third-year public relations student from Tampa, FL.
Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats will vote to end the shutdown if Republicans agree to extend the Affordable Healthcare Act by 1 year, but the offer has not been accepted. Meanwhile, 42 million Americans have had cuts to SNAP benefits two weeks before Thanksgiving.
