Story Highlight
– US shutdown costs taxpayers $400 million daily.
– Total shutdown cost has reached approximately $1.2 billion.
– 750,000 federal employees currently furloughed.
– Negotiations between parties remain deadlocked with no resolution.
– Military members also affected, not receiving pay during shutdown.
Full Story
A prolonged government shutdown in the United States is incurring substantial costs for taxpayers, with an estimated $400 million lost daily in wages for federal workers currently on unpaid leave. This information has been disclosed by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and was highlighted by Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). As of now, the accumulated financial impact has reached roughly $1.2 billion.
Senator Ernst addressed the situation, stating, “Schumer’s Shutdown Shenanigans mean taxpayers will be on the hook for another $400 million today to pay 750,000 non-essential bureaucrats NOT to work.” She further criticized the actions of congressional Democrats, claiming, “Democrats’ political stunt to fight for taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants has officially become a billion-dollar boondoggle. Enough has to be enough for the radical left. We must reopen the government and get Washington back to work serving veterans, families and hardworking Americans,” as reported by Fox News.
The CBO’s findings were provided to Ernst following her September request for details about the shutdown’s financial implications, coinciding with the approach of the government’s funding deadline. Their estimates draw primarily on data from a previous five-week government shutdown that took place from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019, during the initial Trump administration. The letter from the CBO indicated that the number of furloughed employees, estimated at about 750,000, may vary as some agencies could choose to furlough additional staff or reinstate those who were initially sent home as the shutdown drags on.
A federal law enacted in 2019 guarantees back pay for government employees once a resolution is reached and the shutdown concludes. As the situation stands, the impasse continues into the fourth day with little hope for a quick solution following stalled negotiations between Republican and Democratic leaders.
Current forecasts suggest that discussions will not resume until at least next week, with the Senate cancelling votes until Monday and the House of Representatives halting all votes for the week, resuming only on October 14, as reported by NBC News. The Republican party has stated it will not engage in negotiations until Democrats approve a short-term funding resolution intended to reopen the government and facilitate further discussions on a comprehensive funding plan.
Former President Trump has expressed hesitance regarding the shutdown, yet suggested there could be certain benefits to the deadlock. Furthermore, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked on Friday that approximately 1.3 million members of the United States military services, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force, are currently experiencing delays in receiving their pay due to the ongoing shutdown.