Government Shutdown Could Give Trump Extra Power, Experts Say
A potential federal government shutdown on October 1 could give President Donald Trump's administration extra power to impose its will on the country, experts warn.
The current battle in Congress focuses on expiring subsidies for the Affordable Care Act that Democrats say will hurt millions of enrollees' ability to afford insurance. Republicans are seeking a bill to temporarily extend federal spending at current levels without any add-ons. If no agreement is reached, the government could shut down, and Trump's administration would be forced to make tough decisions on which services to prioritize.
"This would give the president a blank check to do whatever he wants," said Sarah Binder, a professor of political science at George Washington University. "He could use it as an opportunity to impose his will on the country, without any checks or balances."
Binder noted that Trump's administration has already defied norms on executive power, and a shutdown would only embolden him further.
The Trump administration has made it clear that they are willing to tie a shutdown to potential mass federal worker layoffs. "We're not going to be held hostage by the Democrats' demands for more spending," said White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany. "If we have to make some tough decisions, we will."
Democrats, however, say that a shutdown would be catastrophic and would harm millions of Americans who rely on government services.
"A shutdown would be a disaster for our country," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. "It would hurt the economy, it would hurt our national security, and it would hurt the most vulnerable among us."
The current battle in Congress is not just about policy; it's also about power. If Trump's administration gets its way, they could use a shutdown to impose their will on the country.
"It's a classic case of 'you can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs'," said Binder. "But in this case, the egg is the Constitution, and we're talking about the potential for a constitutional crisis."
The current status of the negotiations remains unclear, but one thing is certain: if no agreement is reached by October 1, the government will shut down, and Trump's administration will be forced to make tough decisions.
In the meantime, experts warn that a shutdown would have far-reaching consequences, not just for the country but also for the world.
"A shutdown would send a signal to our allies and adversaries alike that we're not a reliable partner," said Binder. "It would undermine our national security and our economic interests."
As the clock ticks down to October 1, one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the consequences of a government shutdown could be catastrophic.
Contributing to this report were Sarah Binder, professor of political science at George Washington University; Kayleigh McEnany, White House Press Secretary; and Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader.
*Reporting by Aljazeera.*
