Since December 22nd 2018, national parks, the museums have been closed, a consequence of the US government’s shutdown, the paralysis of all the federal administrations.
This is a shut down more than ever politic because of the president Trump’s decision to build a wall on the US/Mexican border.
At the end of the week, the Democrats and Republicans haven't managed to find a consensus on the vote for the government’s budget therefore froze the country.
The Shutdown is banned in France, but is very common in the USA, generally, the shutdown lasts for 3 or 4 days though it doesn’t look like it is going to be this quick, the persistance of the president causing the shutdown to last longer.
Building a wall between the US and Mexico was a campaign promise and the Democrats are strongly opposed with the idea of $5 billions going towards this project.
Because of this lack of agreement, non-essential civil servants are unemployed and federal agencies are paralyzed.
Around 850.000 federal employees are on laid off for operational reasons and therefore not getting paid; they aren’t allowed to work, even voluntarily or they could be charged.
For example, tax officials are not working, nor do employees of national museums and nationals parks.
The security services (prison guards, air traffic controllers, medical services, etc.) are generally spared.
This time, 1.4 million soldiers will continue their operations ... but without being paid.
In 2013, the White House estimated (to be between 1.6 and 4.8 billion euros) the loss of production of companies in the country during the shutdown.
When it ends, public servants who have continued to work are often paid retrospectively.
Since 1977, it's the 19th Shutdown and it is Ronald Reagan who holds the record number of shutdown with eight during his two terms (1981-1989).
The latest, before the one coinciding with Donald Trump's first anniversary at the House, was in 2013 under Barack Obama. It had lasted for two weeks.
After 36 days the President Trump has finally announced the end of the shutdown by announcing the establishment of an agreement to end - temporarily - the partial closure of the administration of the country.
"I am very proud to announce today that we have reached an agreement to end the shutdown, » said the president.
The Congress then approved by unanimous consent this agreement, which Donald Trump signed, announced at the White House in the evening of the same day.
Temporary funding for federal public services is planned until February 15 but this resumption of work could again be interrupted next month, threatened Donald Trump:
"We have no choice but to build a strong wall or a steel barrier. If we do not reach an agreement with Congress, either the government will be closed again on February 15, or I will use my powers to respond to this emergency, "continued the president.
While Washington is recovering from this long month of negotiations, nothing is certain about the political future of the country. Indeed, the president believes that he is not going to be reelected in 2020 if he doesn’t do everything he can to build this wall, even at the cost of the country’s economy.
Antoine El Adib