US Senate moves to end ending longest government shutdown in American history • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Government Shutdown
• US Senate Deal
• House of Representatives Approval
• Federal Employees
• Government Funding
• Donald Trump's Strategy
• Political Opponents
• Democratic Parties/Agencies
• Food Benefits
• Airport Chaos
• Federal Workers (Furloughed, Laid Off)
• Retribution
• Congressional Budget
• Healthcare Subsidies
• Tax Credits
• Capitulation vs. Pragmatism
• Progressive Wing of the Democratic Party

Senate Passes Deal to End Government Shutdown

The US Senate has passed a deal aimed at ending the government shutdown, which has been in effect since early October. This marks the first significant step towards restoring frozen government funding. The agreement, however, still requires approval from the House of Representatives before federal employees can return to work and government services can resume. After 40 days of gridlock, this development offers the clearest indication yet that an end to the shutdown may be imminent.

Nature of the Shutdown: A More Bitter and Rancorous Affair

International affairs commentator Douglas Herbert described this shutdown as being "more bitter" and "more rancorous" than previous ones. He highlighted that President Donald Trump elevated the shutdown beyond typical ideological differences and inter-party squabbles.

Key Points:

• Trump's Strategy: President Trump utilized the shutdown as a "blunt cudgel" against perceived political opponents, specifically targeting Democratic parties and agencies within the government.
• Targeting "Democratic Agencies": Trump spoke on social media about imposing cuts and potential layoffs on agencies he identified as "democratic."
• Inflicting Pain: Critics argue that Trump used the shutdown to "inflict pain on Americans," making life difficult for many.

Methods Used to Inflict Pain

The transcript details specific actions taken during the shutdown that impacted Americans:

• Suspension of Food Benefits: Efforts were made to suspend or cut off food benefits for Americans.
• Airport Chaos: The shutdown led to growing chaos at airports, with some being ordered to shut down due to a lack of air traffic controllers.
• Impact on Federal Employees: Federal employees faced significant difficulties. Many were furloughed (forced to work without pay), a common occurrence during shutdowns. However, in this instance, thousands of federal workers were also laid off.

Shutdown as Retribution

According to Trump's opponents, this shutdown followed a pattern of retribution characteristic of his presidency. The argument is that the 40-day shutdown, the longest in history, was not solely about budget negotiations but was used to target political opponents.

Democratic Support for the Deal

The deal's passage in the Senate was not unanimous among Democrats.

Key Points:

• Break in Ranks: A small but crucial group of eight Democrats broke ranks with their party and joined Republicans in the Senate to vote in favor of the agreement.
• Democratic Concessions: The deal is seen by some as a concession from Democrats, as it does not include their primary demand: the protection of healthcare subsidies.
• Expiration of Tax Credits: Healthcare subsidies, in the form of tax credits for Americans, were set to expire at the end of the year, and Democrats had made their protection a central argument for prolonging the shutdown.
• Promise of a Vote: The Democrats who broke ranks accepted a deal that did not secure the extension of these tax credits. Their only gain was a promise from the Senate to hold a vote in December on the tax credits to explore their extension.

Debate Over Democratic Action: Capitulation or Pragmatism?

The decision by some Democrats to support the deal has sparked debate.

• Capitulation Argument: Headlines suggest that Democrats "blinked first" by giving up their core demand.
• Pragmatism Argument: The transcript acknowledges the ongoing debate about whether this was an act of capitulation or pragmatism.
• Internal Party Blowback: It is anticipated that Democrats who supported the deal will face significant backlash from within their own party, particularly from the more progressive wing.

Conclusion

The US Senate's passage of a deal to end the government shutdown represents a significant development after 40 days of gridlock. While the deal moves towards reopening the government, it highlights President Trump's assertive and punitive approach to the shutdown, which impacted various aspects of American life. The deal's passage also reveals internal divisions within the Democratic party, with a faction breaking ranks to support an agreement that did not fully meet their initial demands regarding healthcare subsidies, leading to questions about whether this was a pragmatic move or a capitulation. The ultimate resolution now rests with the House of Representatives.