Donald Trump. Our 47th president has, yet again, been in office while the congress has shut down our government. A coincidence?

Maybe, maybe not. So, what is a government shutdown? It's when the federal government must decide what is essential or not; including jobs, and furlough those who are not considered essential. Those who are, must continue working without pay until after the shutdown ceases. This can include organizations and programs. It happened in this case, because Republicans and Democrats could not agree on the budget for the 2026 fiscal year, which is the 12 consecutive months used for tax purposes.

Of course, however, we're not even adults yet, so why should we care? Well, in 2028, we're going to be able to vote, and this situation gives us a lot of information about what is really happening within our government right now. No matter your political party or beliefs, a government shutdown affects workers and organizations negatively. This article will explore that, and why we need to be paying attention to the mess of our current government.

What Caused the Shutdown?

We all know that there are two main political parties. The "red", Republicans, and the "blue", Democrats. Both parties get a say in our government decisions based on how many of them are seated in the Senate or Congress.

The Republicans have the majority of both chambers of Congress, making it so most votes in Congress will result in what they want. However, in the Senate, they have failed to get the 60 votes needed to pass the bill. The current vote is at 55-45, which gives Democrats the ability to use some leverage.

Democrats have demanded that the Affordable Care Act tax breaks be extended. The ACA tax breaks are refundable tax credit, that helps low income and eligible families pay for health care - an essential right that all Americans should have. In contrast, Republicans disagree, and argue that ACA regulations actually increase the amount people have to pay for healthcare - despite the very necessary subsidies being provided.

So, Republicans and Democrats are at a current stand still in negotiations as Republicans are refusing to change their votes, however there have been some signs that they aren’t completely opposed to the idea of extending the ACA subsidies, but only if the government is reopened.

Image Credit: Kaz Vorpal from Wikimedia Commons

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Who Will This Affect?

This affects everyone. Those who are determined as "non-essential" workers will be placed on an unpaid leave, meaning that they won't have a stream of income to feed their families or themselves. Additionally, we all know the extremely unjust deportation and assault happening around the world with immigrants right now. The government shutdown will continue passport and visa services, but may slow them down significantly, making it harder for those who deserve to live in America, to get their papers.

Our shutdown also affects the availability and opening of national parks and museums, which threaten the job security of those who work in these areas. Programs that help communities get food, like SNAP, which gives out benefits and food stamps to low-income families in need, will face the possibility of running out of funding, significantly hurting those who rely on this program to survive.

Image Credit: United States Department of Agriculture from Wikimedia Commons

Our President

What is Trump doing about this situation? Well, the first thing to know is that it is very clear who our leader in office places the blame on. Take a guess... that's right; Democrats. When you go to the presidents website, https://www.whitehouse.gov/, the first thing seen on the page is a countdown of how long "Democrats Have Shut Down the Government".

Instead of trying to fix this and mediate the situation, (because regardless of what party you are, you're still the president and must act in a way that is best for the country), Trump has decided to build a ballroom by tearing down the East Wing of the White House. While there are hundreds of thousands of people who did not receive their full paychecks and are currently struggling to make ends meet, our esteemed head of state is prioritizing making something that the public cannot use, to impress other leaders.

But don't worry, "The arc is going to be incredible" as Trump has recently stated at a White House dinner. The supposed arc has now been referred to as the "Arc de Trump", which summarizes how the public feels about this.

Image Credit: The Trump White House from Wikimedia Commons

Public Opinions

According to a recent poll led by Quinnipiac University, 45 percent of our registered voters believe the government shutdown to be at the fault of Republicans, 39 percent think it's on the Democrats, and 11 percent of people acknowledge that it is the result of both side's actions. Additionally, only 40 percent of voters accredit Trump with doing a good job in office.

While talking to people who live in the Bay Area, many are disgusted at the situation. As the Bay is known to be diverse and progressive, it is insulting knowing that the president who is supposed to protect, value, and take care of our city and our people, is more concerned with stripping away hard working members of our communities means of living, deporting them, and going back to demolishing the White House. It's safe to say many people in California are not happy.

That being said, there are people who blame Democrats. Some think that Democrats will be to blame for food stamp cuts because they are making "absurd" demands. Is healthcare absurd?

Is starting foreign aid back up for those who are in need, something we shouldn't do? Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but as they say, "the proof is in the pudding"; and the fact that the majority of the public sees what's really happening says enough.

Quinnipiac Poll

Image Credit: RCraig90 from Wikimedia Commons

Most Recent Updates

As of Saturday, October 25th, 2025, the government shutdown is on it's 25th day, with no clear end in sight. Both sides remain unfazed and unmoved in their opinions, with the Senate last adjourning on Thursday, meeting next on Monday, the 27th. Currently, the bill has failed to be passed 12 times, and this shutdown is getting closer and closer to be the longest one in history, surpassing the 35 day standstill from December 2018, to January 2019, also under the reign of our current president.

At the end of October, more than 40 million Americans are at risk of going without food benefits, which could put their livelihood on the line. Furthermore, The House will be out of session for another week. The House works with Congress to pass this bill, making it impossible to find a resolution anytime soon. The Senate may vote on a bill passed to them by The House, however it cannot become law until the legislature and the President signs an identical bill.

Ultimately, healthcare is a human right, and both parties will need to compromise on this measure. We will see what happens next, but even if you don't have access to food stamps next month; hopefully you can catch a glimpse of the new Presidential Ballroom.