At 0:00 on October 1, Eastern Time, under an order, The U.S. federal government’s massive machine stopped again after seven years.This was not an accident, but rather a well-planned political show.
Instructions from the White House Office of Management and Budget spread throughout agencies, An "orderly shutdown" officially kicked off.
The lights of the mountain seemed instantly dim, and the reaction of the financial markets was as fast as lightning. Three great times down.Panic emotions spread rapidly.
On the other hand, funds looking for a safe place to put money rushed in like piles, directly raising the international gold price to a new height. The price of cash gold broke $3,860, and futures are fast to reach the threshold of $3,900.
This situation looks quite familiar, according to the Pew Research Center data, from 1976 to now, the U.S. Congress can pass the budget bill on time less poorly, both hands can count, so look at the budget shell, can not talk about this matter, almost become the U.S. "reserve program", three out of five to come once.
But this time, the air is filled with a completely different smell, and a global crisis of confidence that comes from Washington’s radiation has just begun.
The storm appears to be a dispute about health insurance spending, and in fact, behind the political game of the two parties, Democrats want to continue extending reinforced subsidies under the Accountable Care Act (ACA)Restoring medical benefits for legal immigrants.
while Republicans strongly oppose any proposal to expand health insurance spending and insist onining existing budget levels., at first glance, this may seem to be just a policy difference between the two parties, but after careful analysis, it is not difficult to find that the real focus of this battle has become competing for political advantage in the 2028 presidential election.
The Republican Party's position on this issue is very firm. Vice President Vance made it clear that if no agreement can be reached, They would rather have the government shut down than provide so-called “free health benefits” to specific groups.
This tough attitude undoubtedly made the situation even more tense, the two parties quickly fell into a vicious cycle, accusing each other of not being willing to negotiate, Democratic leader Schumer angrily criticized the Republican lack of cooperation spirit, while Republican leader Thun countered the Democrats' unwillingness to compromise.
Standing in the center of the storm, Trump, To put responsibility on the Democratic Party, it appears to be lightweight, and it does not seem to want to take any responsibility.
On the surface, the struggle revolves around the health issue, but in reality it has become a political tool for attacking the other, in which context the state budget, a key document concerning the proper functioning of the country, becomes the “hostage” of the two-party struggle.
For Democrats and Republicans, this political battle is obviously more important than the actual operation of the country. Their real purpose is often not just to solve the health care problem, but This means more support and political capital for the 2028 presidential election.
When politics is used as a weapon, the impact is not limited to a few people, but will affect all levels of society. The most directly affected are those employees of the federal government.
About 750,000 federal employees in the United States have been on "unpaid leave" due to the government shutdown， Salary stopped, life is in trouble, and many families need to pay for mortgage, car loans and children's tuition fees. These daily expenses still can't stop, causing many families to fall into an unprecedented economic crisis.
But far beyond that, employees in key positions such as U.S. air traffic controllers still need to stick to their jobs despite facing no pay. The total number of U.S. air traffic controllers, approximately 1,30,000, was originally facing a human shortage.Now it's even more important to continue to work without income.
This puts the aviation industry at risk of large-scale flight delays, and worse, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staff responsible for pilot training and new route approvals are also being forced to leave, and the entire aviation industry is almost stagnant.
In addition, the tourism industry has also suffered huge losses, National parks in the United States lose as much as $1 billion a week in revenue after closing their doors.
The closure of famous attractions such as the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument not only disappointed tourists, but also puts travel agencies, hotels, catering and other related industries under tremendous pressure, with revenue dropping and many losing their jobs or sources of income.
These chain reactions spread rapidly, eventually affecting every corner of society, the well-being of the people became the victim of political struggle, and government shutdowns brought about not only political differences, but also a direct impact on the lives of ordinary people.
People's lives are affected, they can't get their wages on time, they can't pay their daily bills, and the entire functioning of society is paralyzed.For ordinary people who rely on the federal government for their jobs, this is not only an economic blow, but a deep concern about the uncertainty of their future.
And the country’s political game, in the end, makes the people the biggest losers.
The impact of the government shutdown is not just immediate economic losses. In fact, it has caused long-term damage to the national credibility and global status of the United States. According to estimates by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the GDP loss in the United States is approximately 15 billion for every week of shutdown. 100 million U.S. dollars.
These seemingly ice-cold numbers have actually had a direct impact on the lives of ordinary people. Food stamps for low-income families may be delayed, housing subsidies may be interrupted, drug approvals in the public health system are stalled, and food safety inspections are suspended。
This chaos is not just a domestic problem, it also weakens the U.S. international image, the U.S. has been seen as a global leader, and other countries, especially NATO allies, rely on U.S. governance capabilities and political stability.
But today, with intense political struggles within the United States, increasing polarization among political parties, many have begun to question America’s international commitments. Republican lawmakers have proposed a “exit from NATO”Trump has also refused to meet with the Ukrainian president, which has shaken the confidence of the outside world in the United States.
Worse, this governance failure is weakening America’s credibility and influence as a superpower, and its international reputation is naturally affected when a country’s political elite puts most of its energy into internal struggles.
At the same time, the global financial markets are also beginning to feel shock, with the US dollar as the global reserve currency, US bonds as the safest asset, and their stability based on the credibility of the US government. Now, with the escalation of internal political chaos, the credibility of the United States is quietly declining.
The domestic political struggle in the United States has not only affected the lives of domestic people, but also caused a lot of fluctuations around the world. The global leadership position of the United States is being challenged, and the root of all this comes from the unsolvable political opposition and partisan struggle at home.