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Version 6 Version 7
Government Shutdown: Updates on Where Things Stand Now Government Shutdown: Updates on Where Things Stand Now
(about 4 hours later)
Updated Jan. 23Updated Jan. 23
It’s been more than a month since the first day of the government shutdown. On Tuesday, Senate leaders announced competing votes scheduled for Thursday on a proposal by President Trump to spend $5.7 billion on a border wall and one from Democrats that would fund the government through Feb. 8 without a wall. It’s the first time the Senate has stepped off the sidelines to try to end the shutdown, though the bills each face long odds. It’s been more than a month since the first day of the government shutdown. On Wednesday, President Trump sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi that said he planned to deliver his State of the Union address in Congress as originally scheduled next Tuesday, despite her earlier warning of security concerns because of the shutdown.
Before that announcement, a bone-chilling flash freeze swept through the Midwest and Northeast over the holiday weekend as hundreds of thousands of federal workers remained furloughed, and some continued to work without pay, including forecasters at the National Weather Service. (Veterans of the emergency management field are worried about longer-term trouble, too) A day earlier, Senate leaders announced competing votes scheduled for Thursday on a proposal by Mr. Trump to spend $5.7 billion on a border wall and one from Democrats that would fund the government through Feb. 8 without a wall. It was the first time the Senate had stepped off the sidelines to try to end the shutdown, though the bills each face long odds.
Before that announcement, a bone-chilling flash freeze swept through the Midwest and Northeast over the holiday weekend as hundreds of thousands of federal workers remained furloughed, and some continued to work without pay, including forecasters at the National Weather Service. (Veterans of the emergency management field are worried about longer-term trouble, too.)
Federal employees have differing perceptions of the shutdown. Border Patrol union leaders have backed Mr. Trump’s plan for a wall on the southern border while employees of the Transportation Security Administration have been protesting. Both groups of workers are under the same umbrella organization, the American Federation of Government Employees, whose leadership must finesse their irreconcilable views.
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As The Times reported on Tuesday, while neither measure is expected to draw the 60 votes required to advance, they could usher in a more cooperative phase in the shutdown; if both fail, the votes could prompt the two sides to negotiate a bipartisan compromise.As The Times reported on Tuesday, while neither measure is expected to draw the 60 votes required to advance, they could usher in a more cooperative phase in the shutdown; if both fail, the votes could prompt the two sides to negotiate a bipartisan compromise.
Over the weekend, Mr. Trump had proposed to end the shutdown after Democrats extended an offer of their own. Republicans had hoped his plan would put Democrats in a corner, but Democrats had called it a nonstarter, prompting attacks from the president on the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi. And her relationship with her counterpart in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, who presumably would need to make a deal with her, is fraught. Immigrants in Texas were skeptical of the president’s proposal. Over the weekend, Mr. Trump had proposed to end the shutdown after Democrats extended an offer of their own. Republicans had hoped his plan would put Democrats in a corner, but Democrats had called it a nonstarter, prompting attacks from the president on Ms. Pelosi. And her relationship with her counterpart in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, who presumably would need to make a deal with her, is fraught. Immigrants in Texas were skeptical of the president’s proposal.
While Mr. Trump has projected confidence in public, he has expressed private frustration over what he views as negative coverage. Many Republicans concede, also in private, that he has made strategic errors and allowed dysfunction to continue.While Mr. Trump has projected confidence in public, he has expressed private frustration over what he views as negative coverage. Many Republicans concede, also in private, that he has made strategic errors and allowed dysfunction to continue.
Last week things got personal, too: Ms. Pelosi had urged the president to reschedule his State of the Union address; Mr. Trump had retaliated by denying her military transport to Afghanistan. And then she had accused the Trump administration of leaking her plans to fly commercial, prompting her to postpone the trip, citing security concerns.Last week things got personal, too: Ms. Pelosi had urged the president to reschedule his State of the Union address; Mr. Trump had retaliated by denying her military transport to Afghanistan. And then she had accused the Trump administration of leaking her plans to fly commercial, prompting her to postpone the trip, citing security concerns.
While support for the wall among Republican voters appears to have hardened, broadly the border wall remains unpopular.While support for the wall among Republican voters appears to have hardened, broadly the border wall remains unpopular.
[See how the effects of the government shutdown are piling up.][See how the effects of the government shutdown are piling up.]
When it began, the shutdown left about 800,000 federal workers without pay, with just over half continuing to work, including members of the Coast Guard and food safety inspectors. The number of people working had grown as the Trump administration reinterprets longstanding rules, often to the benefit of the president’s base. When it began, the shutdown left about 800,000 federal workers without pay, with just over half continuing to work, including members of the Coast Guard and food safety inspectors. The number of people working has grown as the Trump administration reinterprets longstanding rules, often to the benefit of the president’s base.
Transportation Security Administration workers, who are among the lowest-paid federal workers, are calling in sick. One in 10 did not report to work on Sunday, often citing “financial limitations,” the agency said.
Furloughed federal employees have started part-time jobs with delivery and ride-hailing apps and applied for other opportunities, such as yoga-instructor positions, to try to make ends meet without a government paycheck.Furloughed federal employees have started part-time jobs with delivery and ride-hailing apps and applied for other opportunities, such as yoga-instructor positions, to try to make ends meet without a government paycheck.
Some of the employees who still had to report to work during the shutdown spoke with The New York Times about their experiences.Some of the employees who still had to report to work during the shutdown spoke with The New York Times about their experiences.
Many federal workers have filed for unemployment benefits. In Washington, local programs have sprouted up to support the city’s large, struggling federal work force. Nationally, an informal network of businesses has also mobilized to ease the pain.Many federal workers have filed for unemployment benefits. In Washington, local programs have sprouted up to support the city’s large, struggling federal work force. Nationally, an informal network of businesses has also mobilized to ease the pain.
But such stories underscore an irony of the shutdown: Federal jobs have long been seen as being among the most stable, even though now they are anything but.But such stories underscore an irony of the shutdown: Federal jobs have long been seen as being among the most stable, even though now they are anything but.
Federal courts, which have been open and operating despite the shutdown, were close to running out of money. Some courts have delayed civil cases, and court-appointed lawyers have not been paid at all.Federal courts, which have been open and operating despite the shutdown, were close to running out of money. Some courts have delayed civil cases, and court-appointed lawyers have not been paid at all.
[A typical federal worker has missed $5,000 in pay from the shutdown so far.][A typical federal worker has missed $5,000 in pay from the shutdown so far.]
The White House admitted recently that the shutdown had a far greater toll on the United States economy than previously thought.The White House admitted recently that the shutdown had a far greater toll on the United States economy than previously thought.
Americans are confident in their own finances, but have become increasingly concerned about the economy overall during the shutdown, according to a recent poll conducted for The Times by the online research firm SurveyMonkey.Americans are confident in their own finances, but have become increasingly concerned about the economy overall during the shutdown, according to a recent poll conducted for The Times by the online research firm SurveyMonkey.
Low-income Americans whose leases are subsidized by the government are worried about their rent because the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is closed, cannot make payments to landlords.Low-income Americans whose leases are subsidized by the government are worried about their rent because the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is closed, cannot make payments to landlords.
Some of the most vulnerable Americans — including the homeless, the elderly and people one crisis away from the streets — are feeling the burden. Without payments from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, nonprofit groups that support low-income renters are also struggling. Many other social safety net programs are facing similar crises. Some of the most vulnerable Americans — including the homeless, older people and those one crisis away from the streets — are feeling the burden. Without payments from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, nonprofit groups that support low-income renters are also struggling. Many other social safety net programs are facing similar crises.
Legions of contractors are out of work and, unlike federal employees working without pay, they have no expectation of recovering the missed wages.Legions of contractors are out of work and, unlike federal employees working without pay, they have no expectation of recovering the missed wages.
For American farmers, the shutdown has compounded concerns about Mr. Trump’s trade war with China. To ease their pain, the president created a $12 billion bailout fund, but that is frozen because of the shutdown. Last week, the Agriculture Department said that it would temporarily call back about 2,500 workers to help farmers and ranchers with existing loans and to provide them with necessary tax documents.For American farmers, the shutdown has compounded concerns about Mr. Trump’s trade war with China. To ease their pain, the president created a $12 billion bailout fund, but that is frozen because of the shutdown. Last week, the Agriculture Department said that it would temporarily call back about 2,500 workers to help farmers and ranchers with existing loans and to provide them with necessary tax documents.
The shutdown has had cascading effects, too. Craft beer brewers, for example, can’t get approval for new equipment or for labels on new lines of beer until their Treasury Department regulators return to work. And young people across the country have been affected in various ways, from having to worry with their parents over lost jobs and wages to being unable to pay tuition or file financial aid forms.The shutdown has had cascading effects, too. Craft beer brewers, for example, can’t get approval for new equipment or for labels on new lines of beer until their Treasury Department regulators return to work. And young people across the country have been affected in various ways, from having to worry with their parents over lost jobs and wages to being unable to pay tuition or file financial aid forms.