US Government Enters Second Week of Shutdown as Budget Stalemate Continues
The federal government shutdown has stretched into its second week as congressional leaders remain deadlocked over budget negotiations, with Democrats and Republicans unable to reach a compromise on key issues, particularly healthcare funding.
The impasse centers on Democrats’ refusal to support a temporary funding bill without guarantees for extending healthcare subsidies, while Republicans maintain these are separate issues that shouldn’t be tied to government operations. The shutdown, which began last Wednesday, has already started affecting various federal agencies and their employees.
Critical government functions continue, but hundreds of thousands of federal workers face delayed paychecks, with the first missed payments expected this Friday. Military personnel could see their first missed paycheck by October 15. In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump has suggested terminating government employees rather than implementing traditional furloughs used in previous shutdowns.
The political divide has deepened, with House Speaker Mike Johnson instructing Republican members to stay away from Congress until Democrats yield, while Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Republicans for their absence, stating at a New York press conference, “Mike Johnson and House Republicans need to get back into town. Do your jobs. Democrats will be present.”
The shutdown’s impact varies across departments, with the Environmental Protection Agency, Education, Housing, Commerce, and Labor departments experiencing the most severe staffing disruptions. Meanwhile, Justice, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management have seen minimal effects, according to New York Times reporting.
Healthcare concerns remain central to the dispute. Democrats warn that without action, 24 million Americans face doubled insurance premiums under Obamacare next year, with four million at risk of losing coverage entirely. Republicans counter that these healthcare matters can be addressed separately from government funding.
The White House’s position has hardened, with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett indicating that permanent layoffs could begin if negotiations completely stall. This comes as the administration, through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, has already reduced the federal workforce by 200,000 positions since Trump’s second term began in January, according to the Partnership for Public Service.
A CBS News poll released Sunday indicates the public slightly favors blaming Republicans for the ongoing crisis, though the margin remains narrow. As both chambers of Congress remain home with no formal negotiations scheduled, the path to resolving this shutdown remains unclear.
