USA
Countdown to the possible “shutdown” is underway in the USA
A clock shows the time remaining until a government shutdown. photo
© Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Republicans and Democrats can usually avert a government shutdown at the last minute. But this time there is a special problem.
A new budget is needed
The term of the budget approved by the US Congress at the end of last year ends at the end of this month – i.e. on Sunday night. A new federal budget must be approved by the end of September in order to avert insolvency. The political wrangling repeats itself every year – usually Congress makes do with passing an interim budget and then fights again in a few months over the financing of government operations. The situation is special this time because the Republicans only have a very narrow majority in the US House of Representatives and the faction is very fragmented.
Not everyone stays at home during the shutdown
Many ministries and authorities have emergency plans in the event of a shutdown. For example, it can be assumed that military members would still continue to work. The Federal Police FBI and the NSA secret service are also exempt from the closure. In the event of a “shutdown”, offices and authorities remain closed, as do federally owned museums and other leisure facilities. The longest “shutdown” in the country’s history occurred at the turn of the year 2018/2019. Because of the dispute over the wall demanded by then President Donald Trump, parts of the government in the USA were at a standstill for over five weeks.
Republican McCarthy under pressure
Negotiations on a budget compromise in Congress continued on Thursday. There is a particular focus on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Republican only came into office at the beginning of the year after 15 rounds of voting because parts of his party refused to support him. McCarthy ultimately made major concessions to the radicals in his caucus. They are now opposing each other in the budget dispute and putting McCarthy under pressure.