Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy has accused President Donald Trump of exploiting the ongoing government shutdown to enhance his authority, which Murphy describes as “king-like powers.” During an interview on CNN’s *State of the Union*, Murphy criticized the president for obstructing bipartisan negotiations aimed at resolving the shutdown that has now lasted 26 days.
Murphy asserted that Trump’s reluctance to negotiate stems from a desire to maintain control over which government departments remain operational. “I think one of the reasons that President Trump is refusing to negotiate is because he likes the fact that the government is closed,” Murphy stated, adding that this situation allows the president to selectively reopen parts of the government and prioritize payments to loyal employees. He likened Trump’s actions to behaviors seen in “totalitarian states.”
Efforts to reach a consensus have been fruitless, with lawmakers from both parties failing to agree on a spending resolution after twelve attempts. The impasse primarily revolves around healthcare subsidies, with Democrats firmly opposing any legislation that does not include these extensions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has emphasized that Republicans are not willing to negotiate on this point, maintaining that discussions regarding subsidies can occur later.
In a related interview on ABC’s *This Week*, Senator Mark Kelly expressed frustration over the limited engagement from Trump in the negotiations. He noted that the president had only spent one hour discussing the shutdown with Democratic leaders, raising questions about Trump’s commitment to resolving the crisis. “If we could have a real negotiation about this… the president has spent one hour on this,” Kelly remarked, questioning Trump’s focus on other priorities, such as his ballroom project, which continues despite the shutdown and is projected to cost over $300 million.
As the shutdown persists, many federal workers are facing hardships due to missed paychecks. More than 42 million Americans are at risk of a food crisis if the situation does not improve. Reports indicate that the government plans to use emergency funds to cover federal food benefits starting on November 1, 2023.
A memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), obtained by *The Irish Star*, criticized Congressional Democrats for blocking government funding, stating, “If not for Congressional Democrats blocking government funding, November SNAP benefits would be paid on time.” The USDA indicated that it would not access contingency funds or alternative nutrition programs to manage the expenses of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is expected to exhaust its funding soon.
Currently, the contingency fund holds approximately $5 billion, which falls short of the $9 billion needed to cover November benefits. Even if the USDA were to utilize these funds, it would take weeks to allocate the money, potentially leaving many individuals without their benefits for the month.
As the stalemate continues, the impact of the shutdown is being felt across the country, with many citizens urging lawmakers to reach a resolution that would restore normal government operations and provide necessary support to affected individuals.
