Political analysts are expressing serious concerns about the current state of the US government as its shutdown is poised to significantly impact Americans.
Commentators indicate that the stark divide between Democrats and President Donald Trump’s Republicans has made finding a middle ground ‘nearly impossible,’ suggesting this shutdown could become one of the lengthiest in the nation’s 249-year history.
“It’s possible this shutdown drags on for weeks, not just days,” Andrew Koneschusky, a former press secretary for Senator Chuck Schumer, stated to the French news agency AFP.
“Right now, both sides are dug in and there’s very little talk of compromise.”
The federal government experienced its longest shutdown on record during 2018 and 2019 under Trump’s first term, lasting about five weeks and causing a complete standstill in multiple agencies.
Meanwhile, the 79-year-old President has accused Democrats of obstructing his attempts to pass a funding bill.
“They’re causing it. We’re ready to go back,” he informed reporters at the White House on Sunday (October 5).
He further cautioned that his administration has started permanently dismissing federal employees instead of merely furloughing them, once again attributing the growing disorder to his political adversaries.
The reason Trump blames the Democrats is due to their majority control in the Senate, where the spending bill was introduced.
Democrats refuse to support the Republican proposal, arguing that it would hinder Americans’ ability to afford healthcare.
They demand the reversal of Medicaid cuts made by Trump and oppose reductions to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Earlier in the year, Democrats grudgingly backed a temporary funding measure to avert a shutdown, but faced criticism from within their party.
Jeff Le, a former senior California official, doubts a swift resolution.
“I could see a temporary agreement coming from both parties by the end of October,” he mentioned, according to AFP.
“Anything beyond two months would halt government operations seriously and potentially impact national and homeland security considerations.”
Le also cautioned that public discontent could soon become a major factor, as both parties face blame if the deadlock persists through October.
Economists have already highlighted potential repercussions, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioning that the shutdown might decelerate GDP growth. Some analysts predict the economy could be losing billions weekly.
Financial analyst Michael Ashley Schulman suggests that a significant market reaction might compel both parties to take action.
“If Wall Street gets spooked and Treasury yields spike, even the most ideologically caffeinated will suddenly discover a deep commitment to bipartisan solutions,” he noted.
Currently, with tens of thousands of federal employees unpaid and essential services on hold, the shutdown shows no signs of concluding soon.