US government shutdown ends after democrats reach deal

United States senators have come to an arrangement, lifting the 3 day Government shutdown. Democrats have agreed to end their standoff with the Trump administration in exchange for the promise of a future debate surrounding young illegal immigrants.

The legislation to reintroduce government funding won the support it needed in the Senate and many expected it to pass through the House of Representatives. The legislation allows the Government to reopen and function until the 8th of February.

The legislation needed a total of 60 votes, with Democrats giving 33 of the 81 votes it ended up getting. 18 senators from both Democrat and Republican parties opposed the measure.

The majority of Democrats were initially against funding the bill as they withdrew their support, demanding that the senate approve protective measures for young illegal immigrants commonly referred to as “Dreamers”.

As the shutdown continued, Democrat leaders were likely worried the public would blame them for the shutdown and accepted a deal with the Republicans. The deal would see the democrats continue to support government funding as long as a senate debate on the future of 700,000 illegal immigrants who were brought into the US as babies by their parents.

President Donald Trump held negotiations with Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democrat leader, although they fell apart on Friday. Both Trump and Schumer blamed each other for the shutdown and the current deal was negotiated without Schumer’s involvement.

Donald Trump celebrated the reopening of government but was quick to apply blame to the democrats saying he was glad they had “come to their senses”. He confirmed that there would be a deal on immigration but “only if it’s good for the country”.

Paul Ryan, the House Speaker told a morning news program that if the Senate had approved a temporary bill to reopen government, the House of Representatives would have approved it as well.

The government shutdown caused thousands of government workers to be sent home due to lack of funding. Most federal services were shut down bar essentials like security and defence.

The shutdown has somewhat contradicted Donald Trumps’ image as a business negotiator who would combat the inefficient and broken culture of federal politics. It also forced the president to cancel his weekend trip to Florida whilst also causing concerns he would be unable to make it to the WEF (World Economic Forum) in Switzerland.

This news adds to Trump’s already damaged public image in the wake of a book revealing inside secrets about his administration being published.

Without regular funding bills being approved in Congress the US Government cannot operate to its full ability. Both sides of politics have used shutdowns to force a political issue on the other.

Christian Woods
Christian Woods
Christian is a morning reporter and technology columnist for Best in Australia. Christian has worked in the media since 2000, in a range of locations. He joined Best in Australia in 2018, and began working in Melbourne in 2019.
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