Background on the Shutdown and Key Players
The US federal government shutdown, now in its 20th day, is expected to end this week, according to Kevin Hassett, a White House economic advisor. Hassett made this statement during an interview with CNBC on October 20, referring to Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.
Hassett, the director of the Council of Economic Advisors, mentioned that his “friends in the Senate” believed it was not a good idea for Democrats to reopen the government before the “No Kings” protests, and now there are possibilities of reaching an agreement this week.
The “No Kings” Protests and Their Impact
People of all ages took to the streets across the United States on Saturday for “No Kings” (No to the Kings) protests, denouncing what they consider authoritarian tendencies and unchecked corruption by US President Donald Trump.
Following the protests, Hassett stated that if the shutdown does not end, the White House would consider additional spending cut measures.
Judicial Branch Faces Temporary Employee Suspensions
Meanwhile, the administrative arm of the US federal judiciary announced on October 20 that it would temporarily suspend its employees since the judicial system had exhausted its funds to maintain remunerated operations during the government shutdown.
A spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the Courts, which employs around 1,250 people, said that all staff would be suspended, though “some are working on exceptional activities during the period without pay.”
This shutdown has forced the judicial branch, for the first time in nearly three decades, to send home without pay some of its over 30,000 employees after Congress failed to pass necessary legislation to maintain government funding.
Unlike executive branch agencies, the judicial branch had managed to maintain remunerated operations for a few weeks following the October 1 government shutdown by using fees and other funds not requiring Congressional approval for new spending.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Kevin Hassett, and why is he relevant? Kevin Hassett is the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, a White House advisor. His statement about the government shutdown’s expected end is significant because it comes from a key economic advisor within the administration.
- Who are the “No Kings” protesters, and what are their concerns? The “No Kings” protesters represent a diverse group of Americans concerned about perceived authoritarian tendencies and corruption by President Donald Trump. They took to the streets on October 20 to voice their disapproval.
- What measures has the judicial branch taken due to the shutdown? The federal judiciary’s administrative arm has temporarily suspended its employees since it exhausted its funds to maintain remunerated operations during the government shutdown. This is a rare occurrence, as the judicial branch usually maintains operations using independent funding sources.
