by Xiong Maoling, Yang Ling, Matthew Rusling
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. federal government shutdown entered its 34th day on Monday, just one step away from breaking the record set during the 35-day shutdown in late 2018 and early 2019.
The ongoing shutdown has caused growing disruptions, hitting sectors such as aviation, food assistance and health care, with its impact continuing to expand and putting mounting pressure on both livelihoods and the economy.
Analysts noted that the current shutdown highlights the deepening partisan divide in U.S. politics. Republicans and Democrats have used the impasse to trade blame and advance their own political agendas, with little sign of compromise. Ordinary Americans, meanwhile, are paying the price for the nation's intensifying political polarization.
MOUNTING STRAIN ON AVIATION SYSTEM
Since the U.S. federal government shutdown began, about 13,000 air traffic controllers and roughly 50,000 airport security officers have been forced to work without pay. An increasing number of employees have taken leave, leading to acute staffing shortages in the aviation industry, worsening flight delays across many regions, and raising concerns over aviation safety.
Last Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration said that about half of the nation's major air traffic control facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, with nearly 90 percent of controllers in the New York area failing to report to work.
Data from U.S. flight-tracking website FlightAware show that thousands of flights across the country are experiencing delays every day. More than 4,000 flights were delayed on Monday, following nearly 6,000 delays on Sunday.
In addition, as paychecks have been delayed, some federal employees -- including air traffic controllers -- have begun taking side jobs to make ends meet, such as driving for ride-hailing services or delivering food. Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, recently warned that this could prevent controllers from fully focusing on their work and increase safety risks.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently said that there is frustration and anxiety among air traffic controllers as the government shutdown drags on, and the stress level they are under right now is "unacceptable."
On Thursday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned that if the shutdown drags well into November, air traffic controllers will continue missing paychecks, potentially creating a disaster for the air travel system as the holiday travel season approaches.
ECONOMIC LOSSES COULD HIT 14 BILLION
Beyond aviation, multiple areas affecting everyday life -- including food assistance and health care benefits -- have also been severely impacted by the U.S. federal government shutdown, increasing the financial burden on ordinary Americans.
While the two parties were busy trading barbs, the new enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act health plans began on Nov. 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has warned that once the enhanced subsidies expire at the end of the year, average premiums could rise by about 30 percent next year. This could affect more than 20 million Americans.
A widely watched food assistance program has also been impacted. After two federal judges intervened, the Trump administration announced on Monday that it would use emergency funds to maintain half of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for this month. However, some states may take weeks or even months to resume full distributions. The program covers 42 million Americans -- roughly one-eighth of the national population -- most of whom live below the poverty line.
The economic impact of the shutdown is becoming increasingly evident. The closure of national park visitor centers and public restrooms, as well as museums and other public facilities, is likely to reduce tourism and negatively affect the travel industry. In addition, with federal employees having their paychecks delayed and some forced to queue for food assistance, consumer spending may decline. Delays in the release of key economic data further exacerbate uncertainty.
When asked what kind of economic damage could occur if the shutdown drags on too long, Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, told Xinhua: "There are two types of damage from the shutdown. One is people not being able to do things, the other is getting things done."
"The getting things done category is huge. This includes things like signing up for Social Security or Medicare or correcting mistakes on payments. That will involve millions of people. Also, people are not able to file for patents, federal permits for things like mining, and many other normal functions of government. That is likely to be the largest measurable economic toll," Baker said.
The ongoing federal government shutdown could cost the U.S. economy up to 14 billion dollars, depending on how long it drags on, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said in a recent report. The CBO estimates that, by the end of 2026, the reduction in hours worked by furloughed federal employees would result in a cumulative loss of real gross domestic product (GDP) of 7 billion dollars in the four-week shutdown scenario, 11 billion dollars in the six-week scenario, and 14 billion dollars in the eight-week scenario.
WHY DOES THE STALEMATE CONTINUE?
Analysts and media believe the prolonged U.S. federal government shutdown stems from a deadlock between the two parties over health care spending, preventing the passage of a temporary funding bill. At the same time, both parties are using the shutdown to advance their own political agendas, showing little urgency to end it.
Since taking office early this year, the Trump administration has sought to drastically cut spending and reduce the size of the federal workforce. Many observers see the shutdown as an opportunity for the administration to pursue its goal of streamlining the government.
Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought estimated that the shutdown could result in the elimination of more than 10,000 federal jobs. Greg Cusack, a former member of the Iowa House of Representatives, said that over the years, Republicans have steadily railed against "the government spending too much." Under Trump and MAGA, "this long-term game plan has been pursued openly and publicly."
Democrats are also showing little willingness to compromise, believing that holding firm on the carefully chosen issue of health care benefits is likely to win broad public support. The recent dispute over funding for the federal food assistance program has also given Democrats an opportunity to reinforce their image as advocates for low-income groups.
The party also hopes to use the shutdown to strengthen internal unity, after its approval ratings dropped sharply in March when it compromised with Republicans on a previous spending bill.
Having taken a hard line against Republicans over health care spending -- a stance that triggered the shutdown -- Democrats are equally reluctant to back down, fearing it would make them appear inconsistent or weak.
A recent Gallup poll showed that public approval of Congress has dropped by 11 percentage points to just 15 percent. Currently, nearly four out of five American adults -- 79 percent -- say they disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job.
"The polling I've seen suggests that nobody is happy with the shutdown or with either party," Christopher Galdieri, a political science professor at Saint Anselm College in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, told Xinhua.
Cusack noted that there is little evidence of any bi-partisanship or good-faith negotiations within the Congress these days or between the White House and Congress, but the American public -- especially low-income groups -- are the ones suffering the consequences. "This country has never been a 'good place' to be poor," he said. ■