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Discussions with Republicans in Washington reveal various justifications for the government shutdown, now in its second week: issues like taxpayer-funded gender-affirming surgeries, healthcare provisions for immigrants, and “substantial financial aid” to individuals who should face deportation.
Conversely, Democrats offer a similarly varied list of grievances: the potential loss of health coverage for millions of Americans, significantly higher medical bills for those who retain coverage—all while asserting this is what voters elected them to do. Even the name Jeffrey Epstein has surfaced in these conversations.
A fundamental disagreement exists between the two parties regarding whether active negotiations are even occurring. On Monday, President Donald Trump informed reporters that the White House was engaging with Democratic lawmakers to find a resolution to the shutdown, which commenced last Wednesday. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York subsequently released a statement essentially denying this, though he expressed openness to such talks.
“There are no official discussions taking place,” stated Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, as she departed the Capitol on Monday. This pragmatic legislator, not seeking re-election next year, is seen as an impartial voice in these proceedings. Nevertheless, her influence is insufficient to break a stalemate that has become deeply personal for both factions.
Meanwhile, Congressional staff and their lobbying associates on K Street anticipate this week will be largely unproductive. According to conversations and messages with approximately a dozen staffers, there’s a widespread belief that the government funding lapse—affecting about 750,000 federal employees and incurring costs of $400 million daily—will persist for some time. Both Congressional offices and the administration have canceled meetings unrelated to the shutdown, effectively halting discussions on other legislative matters.
In essence, Washington D.C. is in disarray, a fact universally acknowledged, yet no one appears eager to resolve the situation. It’s as if everyone is on the “Speed” bus but disinclined to assist Keanu Reeves in stopping the chaos, to borrow an analogy from a former Democratic Senate chief of staff. A Republican aide was more direct: “’Totally F—ed‘ is our anthem,” she remarked, citing a lyric from the Broadway hit “Spring Awakening.” A third Capitol insider, previously a member of Democratic Leadership, expressed even greater cynicism: “Can you even articulate what we’re fighting about at this point?” he queried.
Given the gridlock at the Capitol, the answer seems to be a definitive no. Yet, this doesn’t bring it any closer to an end.
It appears Trump recognizes the shutdown’s unfavorable reception. White House aides are reportedly criticizing Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill, asserting that the onus is on them to find a solution. No entity—neither the White House, nor Hill Republicans, nor Hill Democrats—is currently in a strong position; Trump and congressional Republicans face a 52% disapproval rating, while congressional Democrats stand at 49%, according to CBS News’ reporting.
These figures represent national sentiment. An informal survey of my contacts suggests the situation is even more dire locally. At the Environmental Protection Agency, 89% of staff have been furloughed, based on one count. At the Education Department, this rate is 87%. Commerce? 81%. Labor? 76%. Housing and Urban Development? 71%.
Simply put, it’s a devastating blow for dedicated federal employees responsible for overseeing clean air, administering student loans, promoting American enterprises, tracking American labor, and housing our most vulnerable citizens. Many strive to maintain optimism, but few believe this situation will be brief.
Through a combination of good fortune and political maneuvering, most federal workers received their last paychecks just before the shutdown began. Their subsequent pay—for work completed pre-shutdown—is still expected. This means the severe financial hardship—employees unable to cover bills, rent, and daily expenses—won’t truly impact some civilians in funded government sectors until the end of this month. This temporarily shields lawmakers from immediate consequences, but the approaching holiday weekend might bring neighborly pressure back home. However, some could experience missed pay as early as now. Military personnel, meanwhile, face uncertainty on Oct. 15, when their next paycheck could be jeopardized.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has opted not to recall his Republican members this week, thereby shielding them from uncomfortable inquiries in Capitol hallways. The Senate remains in session, but on Monday, it rejected for a fifth time another effort to pass a temporary spending measure that would have sustained government operations through most of November. Furthermore, on Tuesday, Senators utilized a contentious oversight hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi to question her about politically sensitive decisions made in the case against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which may have protected influential figures—including Trump—from scrutiny.
(The House, too, grapples with its own Epstein-related complexities, as Johnson has hesitated to swear in a new Democratic member from Arizona, a move that would further narrow his majority and potentially necessitate a difficult vote to ascertain what the Justice Department knows about the individual who died awaiting trial on additional charges.)
Also on Tuesday, the White House’s budget office’s chief legal counsel suggested that furloughed federal workers might not be entitled to back pay—despite the clear fact that Trump signed into law a 2019 provision guaranteeing it. The White House discreetly removed a section from its website on Friday which had previously stated that “both furloughed and excepted employees will be paid retroactively.”
Trump himself introduced an element of ambiguity on Tuesday.
“I would say it depends on who we’re discussing,” Trump stated. “I can assure you of this: The Democrats have put many individuals at considerable risk and in jeopardy, but it truly depends on the specific people involved. However, for the most part, we intend to care for our personnel. There are some individuals who genuinely do not merit such care, and we will address them differently.”
For the time being, the nation’s capital remains paralyzed. Lawmakers cannot even agree on who is in charge, much less the intended outcome.
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