As the 116th Congress returns to Capitol Hill for its first full week of legislative business since Democrats reclaimed the majority in the House of Representatives, both parties in power will continue to struggle to reach a funding deal to reopen 25 percent of the federal government. Even though money ran out on December 21, 2018 – marking the longest ever federal closure – no ground has been made by either President Donald Trump and Republicans or Democrats.
The next landmark adding to the shutdown saga is likely to be the State of the Union address set to air January 29. For the next two weeks, there is little sign of a deal yet to be made; however, the political consequences of the impasse are continuing to build.
Over the weekend, 2,000 federal workers protested outside the White House that has so commonly been associated with contentious talks with congressional leaders over the shutdown. At least 800,000 furloughed federal workers have come to terms with missing paychecks, highlighting the fact that nearly 80 percent of American workers live paycheck to paycheck.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has encouraged Trump to reopen the government for several weeks to continue negotiating with Democrats over the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The short-term fix would at least allow federal employees to be paid, dampening the negative consequences of the over three-week-long standoff in Washington.
Regardless, the president has stood firm on his $5 billion request for funding his campaign promise of a southern border wall, adding during last week’s national address from the Oval Office that there is a “growing humanitarian and security crisis” at the border.
President Trump, targeting Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA-14) and Senate Minority Leader Schumer (D-NY) for inaction, said on Twitter earlier today, “I’ve been waiting all weekend. Democrats must get to work now. Border must be secured!”
Although the commander in chief asserted weeks ago that he would “take the mantle” on the government shutdown, he is now placing the blame on Democrats in Congress. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), also ready to battle a Democratic lower chamber, said the GOP majority in the Senate will not deliberate anything the president will not sign.
Trump is currently warming to the idea of declaring a national emergency to build the southern border wall, allowing the White House to bypass congressional appropriations and tap into various unspent federal money, which will come from military construction and disaster relief. However, Democrats, and even some Republicans, oppose an emergency declaration that would undoubtedly be challenged at the Supreme Court level, and be an unprecedented move that could affect the power of the presidency for generations to come.
If the funding impasse remains unresolved through President Trump’s second address to the union at the end of January, the country could face dire economic repercussions if the government shutdown lasts, as Trump has said before, for “months or even years.”
With nine of the 15 federal agencies closed, disaster relief could be delayed, leading to unforeseen circumstances as the winter storm season grows on. The federal court system would nearly cease operations as asylum requests are already back logged by months. Lapsed inspections from both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could lead to dangerous outbreaks. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not be able to process and send out tax refunds. Over eight million low-income Americans could lose food stamps, and at least two million without rental assistance could face eviction.
One way or another, though, President Trump says his proposed border wall, which has now been dubbed “peaches,” for currently unknown reasons, will get built. The question is, however, who will pay for it and will the federal government fully reopen anytime soon?