Parties Locked in Brinkmanship as Trump Issues Another Layoff "Threat"

　　Due to an impasse between Democrats and Republicans over issues such as healthcare benefit spending, the US Senate failed to pass a new temporary funding bill before government funds ran out on the evening of September 30. At 00:00 local time on October 1, the US federal government experienced another shutdown, the first in nearly seven years.

　　According to estimates from the White House Office of Management and Budget, approximately 750,000 employees will be furloughed during this shutdown. The specific impact will depend on its duration and the government's operational arrangements during this period, but the economic losses may be irreversible.

　　A new media poll conducted this week shows that more American voters currently blame Trump and the Republicans for this round of government shutdown than the Democrats—the poll gap reached 17 percentage points. Independent voters overwhelmingly side with the Democrats on this issue. Among partisan voters, only 67% of Republicans blame the Democrats for causing the shutdown, while 87% of Democrats blame the Republicans.

　　Regarding the schedule, both the US House of Representatives and Senate had no votes scheduled on Thursday in observance of the Yom Kippur holiday. The US Senate is expected to reconvene at 11:30 AM local time on the 3rd to vote on a temporary funding bill to extend federal government funds.

　　Industry insiders expect Senate Democrats will likely block the bill again. If the bill still fails to pass on the 3rd, the Senate is not expected to meet over the weekend and may not hold another vote until next week—meaning the federal government shutdown would also persist into next week.

　　House Appropriations Committee Chairman, Republican Congressman Tom Cole from Oklahoma, stated, "Whether initiated by Republicans or Democrats, past government shutdowns have never achieved their objectives. It's a profoundly foolish move."