America is Closed
Because of budget disagreements, the government was shutdown until a resolution could be made.
Tribune News Service/Olivier Douliery
Many people across the nation suffered when the government was shutdown. They did not revive paychecks and could not use government programs.
On December 22, 2018, the government was shut down. Everything was shut down except social security, Medicare, Medicaid and the post office; many employees did not receive a paycheck. On January 12, it became the longest in history. President Donald Trump shut down the government after Congress refused to pass his plan of a $5.7 billion proposal of a steel wall along the southern border. On January 8, Trump gave a speech from the oval office with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer giving a rebuttal.
“The federal government remains shut down for one reason, and one reason only, because Democrats will not fund border security,” Trump said according to nytimes.com.
It was made clear by the president that he will only reopen the government when the Democrats pass his proposal.
“President Trump has chosen to hold hostage critical services for the health, safety, and well-being of the American people, and withhold the paychecks of 800,000 innocent workers across the nation, many of them veterans,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said according to nytimes.com.
According to cnbc.com, 78 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Without being paid for their work, many Americans have not been able to pay bills or buy food. President Trump assures American citizens that everything he is doing it for the good of the country.
“This is a choice between right and wrong, justice and injustice,” Trump said according to nytimes.com. “This is about whether we fulfill our sacred duty to the American citizens we serve.”
On January 25, the government reopened due to extreme public anger. Trump had threatened that if Congress does not get him the funding he needs for the wall, the government will reshutdown on February 15.
“Let me be very clear: We really have no choice but to build a powerful wall or steel barrier. If we don’t get a fair deal from Congress, the government will either shut down on February 15, again, or I will use the powers afforded to me under the laws and the Constitution of the United States to address this emergency,” Trump said, according to washingtonpost.com.