Will the US government shut down? Find out at 0:01 AM on October 1st

Unless the two parties in the US Congress can reach an agreement to maintain government funding, the federal government will shut down at 0:01 AM on Wednesday, October 1st, and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be forced to take leave. Democratic congressional leaders met with President Trump on the 30th, but no agreement was reached.

On Tuesday, September 30th, with less than 12 hours until the US government shuts down, President Trump stated that if the government shuts down this week, he may fire "a large number" of federal employees and implement irreversible reforms. He said, "It's all because of the Democrats." He accused Democrats of refusing to give up their demands as the reason for the government shutdown, saying, "Nothing is inevitable, I think it was very likely (to avoid the shutdown)." "But I haven't seen them make any concessions."

With just a few hours left before the government shutdown takes effect, Republicans and Democrats continue to blame each other for the deadlock.

Republican lawmakers have called for a short-term agreement or a continuing resolution to keep government funding at the current level until November 21st.

The Democrats refused to support the Republican resolution, believing that any agreement must include extending the Medicare subsidies that expire at the end of the year.

The last time the US government shut down was during Trump's first administration, lasting 35 days. Afterward, the US government faced the threat of shutdown several times, but legislators eventually reached last-minute agreements to maintain government funding.

President Trump has shown an unyielding attitude this time, warning of irreversible government reforms to pressure the Democrats.

He said on Tuesday, "During the government shutdown, we can do things that are irreversible, which are against them, and they cannot reverse, such as cutting a large number of people, cutting departments they like, cutting projects they like." The "they" here refers to the Democrats.

Trump loudly said, "Because of the government shutdown, we can take action in healthcare and other areas, including welfare." Trump mentioned the planner of the federal government workforce reform, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, who is "very popular." It was Vought who instructed federal agencies to develop plans for large-scale layoffs after the government shutdown.

Reuters pointed out: Once the federal government shuts down, air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel responsible for airport security checks must continue to work, but they cannot receive pay. During the 35-day government shutdown in 2019, air traffic controllers and TSA personnel, unable to receive salaries, had increased absenteeism, leading to significantly longer waiting times at some airport security checkpoints.

Airline operators in the United States warned on the 29th that if federal government air traffic controllers and security personnel were forced to work without pay, it could affect air transportation, causing flight delays.

The Airlines for America association, consisting of carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, stated that if government budgets are cut, "the air transport system may be forced to slow down, reduce efficiency," thus affecting passenger rights.

On the day before the possible government shutdown in the United States, generals from the global military forces gathered to hear Trump speak, stating that the US is facing a "war from within." He also said, "In the coming years, we will build our military stronger, more resilient, faster, braver, and more combat-ready than ever before."

Source: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844724467020811/

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