US Government Partially Shuts Down After Senate Vote Fails
The federal government partially shut down at midnight on October 1, 2023, following a failed Senate vote on a short-term funding bill. All but three Senate Democrats opposed the measure, which was designed to keep government operations funded until November 21, 2023. This marks the first government shutdown since December 2018, when federal operations ceased for 35 days, impacting tens of thousands of workers.
Shortly after the Senate vote, Russ Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, instructed federal department heads to begin preparations for the shutdown. In a memo, he stated, “[A]ffected agencies should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown.”
The House-passed bill, which had backing from nearly all Senate Republicans and President Trump, fell short of the necessary 60 votes, failing by five. Democrats insisted that any funding agreement include provisions for extending pandemic-era healthcare subsidies and reinstating funding for foreign aid and other programs that had been cut.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed hope that negotiations would continue, stating, “I am hoping there are enough reasonable Democrats over there.” He indicated that lawmakers would reconvene to attempt another vote, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to avoid the shutdown.
Polling data from The New York Times/Siena revealed that 65% of registered voters opposed a government shutdown, even if Democratic demands were unmet. Notably, 43% of registered Democrats also opposed the shutdown, highlighting significant public discontent with the current political standoff.
As negotiations unfolded, Trump met with Democratic leaders, posting images from the meeting on social media as the deadline approached. He criticized Democrats for potentially including “free health care for illegal aliens” in the legislation, a claim that Democratic leaders have denied.
In a warning about the implications of the shutdown, Trump stated, “We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible.” Vought had previously advised federal agencies to prepare for potential layoffs of non-essential employees if the shutdown were to extend indefinitely.
The White House also ramped up its messaging, launching a countdown clock on its website indicating an impending “Democrat shutdown.” A video loop depicting past Democratic comments on government shutdowns was shared across social media platforms.
Thune, appearing on CNBC, argued that passing short-term funding resolutions is a routine practice, recalling that similar measures had succeeded multiple times under previous administrations. In contrast, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer maintained that the responsibility lies with Republicans to agree to Democratic demands to reopen the government.
The consequences of the shutdown are already being felt, with House Speaker Mike Johnson warning that essential services would be impacted. “Troops won’t be paid. TSA agents won’t be paid,” he stated, highlighting the serious implications for public safety and welfare.
Despite the shutdown, federal benefits such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will continue to be disbursed. Essential federal employees, including postal workers and air traffic controllers, will continue their duties, although non-essential workers and military personnel will only receive pay retroactively once the shutdown is resolved.
As negotiations continue, the potential longevity of the shutdown remains uncertain, dependent on the willingness of both parties to compromise on key issues.
