Mass Protests and Company Closures: What's Happening in the US

The second shutdown during Donald Trump«s current presidential term has begun in the US. The government has suspended work for two days, and protests have reached the federal level. We explain what is happening in the country and how this situation will affect the US economy.

What is a Shutdown

A shutdown (from English «shutdown» — «turnoff») is a forced stoppage of work at many US government institutions due to politicians failing to agree on and pass the federal budget in time. Typically, a shutdown does not lead to a complete halt of government work but affects only a part — usually no more than a quarter of federal expenditures that must be approved by Congress.

This situation in the US occurs due to the peculiarities of the country«s budget system. By law, all government agencies cannot spend money if Congress has not approved the budget. This rule is enshrined in the US Constitution.

During a shutdown, many government employees are sent on unpaid leave and cannot work or use official equipment. Additionally, national parks and museums close, and research projects at government scientific and medical institutes are suspended.

Also, some government agencies stop conducting inspections and audits, including tax ones. The issuance of new passports and visas is temporarily halted. Small businesses and startups do not receive government loans. Contractors of federal departments, such as security guards and cleaners, remain unpaid.

Why the Shutdown Began

Recently, the US Senate approved five budget bills and agreed on temporary — for two weeks — funding for the Department of Homeland Security. It is precisely because of this that disagreements began among legislators.

First and foremost, the disputes are related to the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose actions have caused mass protests. A compromise on this expenditure item has not yet been found.

Trump«s Response

The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of temporarily allocating funds to the Department of Homeland Security in exchange for approving the budget for other ministries and agencies, writes CNN. The budget program includes 12 components, half of which have already been approved by Congress and signed by Trump. The remaining six sections have passed review in the House of Representatives and await Senate approval.

Republicans, who have a majority in the upper chamber (53 seats against 47 for Democrats), cannot approve the budget on their own, as 60 votes are required for this. Last week, the likelihood of reaching an agreement on government funding looked very optimistic. However, the incident in Minneapolis, where a person died due to the actions of federal agents, led to a different outcome. After this case, Democrats stated that the bill would not be supported without introducing restrictions and oversight on the activities of the Department of Homeland Security.

Against this backdrop, well-known American journalist Tucker Carlson warned of a possible collapse of the country.

«We are witnessing the destruction of the social structure of the government and, possibly, the entire country. This is one of the most serious moments in our lives. This is the worst that can happen. Chaos is equivalent to death — the death of people, the death of the weak, the death of the country,» the journalist is quoted by RIA Novosti.

According to him, during the previous shutdown, the administration of the American leader found money only for military salaries.

«The main conclusion from this is that the country will fall apart. This is a civil war. That is its definition. You have regions and states with internal governance that do not recognize federal authority. And then we will deal with widespread violence, then mass killings, then civil war,» added the journalist.

Mass Protests Against ICE Actions Have Spread to the Federal Level in the US

The wave of protests against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is growing. The rallies that began in Minneapolis have already spread to other states. In California, thousands of Americans have taken to the streets, expressing dissatisfaction with the work of the immigration service.

These protest actions have already reached the federal level, notes REN TV. Several thousand people have already protested against the actions of ICE employees in Los Angeles. The protests quickly escalated into fierce clashes with law enforcement representatives and riots, forcing the police to retreat.

Despite low temperatures — about 20 degrees Celsius (68°F), protests in Minneapolis have been continuing for a month. There, protesters demand the complete withdrawal of immigration police from the city. Many people with placards are gathered at the courthouse.

Police are increasing their presence in the city, setting up barricades and blocking streets. However, the situation remains tense.

Protests in Minnesota have been continuing for the second week. There, everything started due to the killings of two residents by federal agents. Recently, across the country, restaurant tables were empty, and store windows were closed due to strikes.

«While the administration of [American leader Donald] Trump tries to contain the wave of outrage over the shooting in Minnesota, it has sparked a new wave of protests from defenders of freedom of speech and freedom of the press in connection with the arrest on Friday of former CNN host Don Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort,» according to a CNN report.

According to The New York Times, ICE has expanded the rights of its employees. Now they are authorized to detain people without a court order, acting only on their suspicions. Previously, they were already allowed to enter private residences without a search warrant.