Partial Government Shutdown Begins Amid Immigration Enforcement Debate, Extreme Weather Events
Washington D.C. - The U.S. federal government entered a partial shutdown just after midnight on Friday, as lawmakers grappled with spending and immigration enforcement tactics, according to Time. The shutdown, though expected to be brief, occurred even as extreme weather events battered both the United States and Australia.
The Senate had moved to pass a bipartisan spending package that would fund most of the government through the end of the fiscal year while allowing two more weeks to negotiate new limits on the Administration's immigration enforcement tactics, Time reported. However, with the House out of session until Monday, there was no practical way to send the bill to President Donald Trump before the deadline.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Minnesota denied a preliminary injunction to halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities, NPR News reported. Judge Katherine M. Menendez denied the request sought in a lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, who argued that the Department of Homeland Security was violating the law.
Adding to the complex situation, extreme weather events were occurring across the globe, Time noted. In the U.S., Winter Storm Fern had set snow records in parts of the country the previous weekend, followed by a prolonged cold-air outbreak. A bomb cyclone was expected to hit the southeast over the weekend. Simultaneously, southern Australia was experiencing a severe heat wave, with temperatures reaching 120F, the most extreme in 16 years. Gary Lackmann, professor in the de, stated that while it's difficult to directly blame climate change for any single weather event, a warming planet could lead to more frequent and simultaneous extreme events.
In other news, President Trump commented on the U.S. dollar's recent decline, Fortune reported. "I think it's great," Trump said on Tuesday regarding the dollar's drop. "Look at the business we're doing. The dollar's doing great." The U.S. dollar index had plunged 10% over the last year and 1.2% this month alone. However, the currency rebounded somewhat after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reaffirmed the U.S. has a strong dollar policy and denied rumors of an intervention.
Amidst these domestic issues, leaders in Asia and Europe were forging closer ties, driven in part by the presence of President Trump, though often without explicitly mentioning his name, according to NPR Politics. In Beijing, the U.K. and Chinese leaders called for a "long-term, stable, and c.
The House will now have to decide whether to swiftly ratify the Senate plan or reopen a deeper fight over spending and immigration, Time noted. The duration of the government shutdown remains uncertain, but lawmakers on both sides expressed hope for a quick resolution.
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