Two-Way Shutdown

The United States government is in its largest shutdown in recorded history. Though left wing and right wing media attempt to pin the blame on a single side, both the Trump administration and the Democratic leaders in Congress are to blame.

The Wall

The shutdown—which is the longest partial closure of the federal government since 1995—stems from the disagreement over President Trump’s proposed budget for building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump touted this particular border security policy since the start of his presidential campaign in 2015.

Mexico refuses to pay for the wall, and an executive order rerouting defense funding to construct the wall would almost certainly be blocked in federal court. Therefore, Trump is forced to secure funding from Congress.

He is facing a steep challenge as the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives refuses to provide the $5.6 billion that Trump requests. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer are currently countering with $1.6 billion for general border security. 

This situation obviously infuriates both sides since neither is willing to budge. Trump has met with Democratic leaders numerous times, yet the meetings have not yielded compromise. Especially during meetings with Pelosi and Schumer, Trump has passionately expressed his opposition and has stood firm on his willingness to “shut down the government for months and years.”

Unwilling to Budge

What does this shutdown really mean?

The entire government is not actually shut down. Currently, some departments are closed and some workers are furloughed. Many federal employees who would have received their paycheck last Friday have instead received nothing.

As the shutdown continues, the country will experience increasingly dangerous effects. For instance, the National Park Service is essentially unfunded, causing trash and debris to accumulate. Volunteers have been organizing efforts to remove trash, but lasting damage to national sites could eventually result from the shutdown. Workers across the government will continue without pay. Eventually, federal district courts could run out of operating funds. With February approaching, agencies would have to develop new plans on how to cut staff in order to continue operation.

In spite of detrimental effects broadcasted by the media, it is unfair to pin the government shutdown on Trump alone. This really is a two-sided stalemate in which both sides are unwilling to concede.

The upcoming 2020 election cycle is motivating both parties in their unwillingness to budge. If Trump does not build his wall, he risks disapproval from his base. If the Democrats capitulate to Trump, a border wall will serve as a permanent physical reminder of their failure.

Partisan politics are halting government services. Though unlikely, the fastest solution to an increasingly harmful situation is bipartisan compromise.