On Oct. 1 of this year, the U.S. government shut down for the first time since 2019, when it shut down for 35 days. This shutdown is proving be just as long, actually longer in fact, since Congress seems to be in a deadlock over allotment of federal funds.
It’s been 37 days since the U.S. government shut down, and in that time many things have happened. From the start of the month, the Republican majority has been fighting with their democratic colleagues over the national budget.
Delaware congresswoman Sarah McBride said in an Instagram post, “Let’s be clear, Republicans control the presidency, the senate, and the house of representatives. It is quite literally their job to figure this out.”
While in contrast, speaker Mike Johnson said in an Instagram post, “Republicans have been working, we are ready, we’ve been doing this.” he blames the “radical left” for continuing the shutdown.
Congress people on both sides of the isles are trying to figure this out, coming in every day to try and fix the budget and pay federal workers that have been furloughed or forced to work without pay.
According to www.apnews.com, “Roughly 750,000 federal workers were expected to be furloughed, and some fired, by Trump’s Republican administration. Many offices will be shuttered, perhaps permanently, as the president promises to zero in on programs Democrats like. Trump’s deportation agenda is likely to run full speed ahead, while education, environmental and other services sputter. The economic fallout could ripple across the nation.”
Education has really been impacted, as public schools aren’t getting the necessary funding to be able to support things like adequate school lunch meals, teachers school supplies, new desks and even hand sanitizer as flu and cold season approaches. Eagle High also felt the impact, as funding for school supplies and classroom sanitation supplies have dwindled. Projects around the school, like updating student bathrooms and fixing Thunder Stadium’s stands have been put on the back burner as the shutdown continues.
On Nov. 1, millions of lower income Americans also lost SNAP food benefits, leading to more instability as low-income students and families try their best to eat. Thousands have had to choose between paying the power bill and feeding their families.
As this shutdown continues to affect people across the nation, the true questions to be asking isn’t about one side or another, it should really be about who’s in charge, who’s doing something to stop this and who’s working for the people.
