The U.S. government shutdown has now entered its second week, with no immediate resolution in sight as lawmakers remain at an impasse.
The funding lapse, which began last Wednesday, has forced the suspension of non-critical federal services. Hundreds of thousands of public sector employees are expected to miss their paychecks starting Friday, and military personnel could see delayed payments by October 15th.
The deadlock stems from a dispute between Democrats and Republicans over expiring health care subsidies. Democrats are withholding support for a temporary funding bill unless an agreement is reached to extend the subsidies. They warn that without action, millions of Americans could face sharply higher insurance premiums or lose coverage entirely under the Affordable Care Act.
Republicans maintain that the health care issue should be addressed separately from government funding. House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated that the House has already done its part by passing a stopgap bill, and has called on Senate Democrats to end the blockade.
The standoff has led to significant disruptions, with agencies like the EPA and the Departments of Education, Housing, Commerce, and Labor among the hardest hit. Meanwhile, the White House has raised the possibility of layoffs if negotiations continue to stall.
A recent poll indicates the public narrowly blames Republicans for the ongoing gridlock, as both sides remain away from the Capitol with no formal talks scheduled.
