Today, the U.S. Government officially shut down as the Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a last minute deal to fund its operations. Today marks one year anniversary of the U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration. It was a bitter dispute over immigration and border security.
In a late night session, the Senators blocked a bill to extend Government funding till the 16th of February. Most of the Democrats opposed the bill as their efforts to include protection for hundreds of thousands of young immigrants known as Dreamers failed. The Senators were still negotiating on the Senate floor as the clock struck midnight but the Trump’s office issued a statement blaming the opposition for the crisis.
This is the fourth Government shutdown in a quarter century. This shutdown delivered Trump another legislative defeat and blow to his self proclaimed expertise at making deals.
The Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders stated the Democrats insisted the interim measure include protection for the undocumented immigrants who arrived at the U.S. as children. This is said to have put off the deal. Sarah said, “Tonight, they put politics above our national security, military families, vulnerable children, and our country’s ability to serve all Americans.” She further added, “We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens’ hostage over their reckless demands. This is the behaviour of obstructionist losers, not legislators.”
Unless and until the funding deal works out, the federal agencies across the U.S. will be unable to operate. Around 8.5 lakh federal workers will be put on temporary unpaid leave.
