On December 11, 2018, President Donald Trump announced he would declare a partial government shutdown unless Congress allocated $5.6 billion in funding for a wall dividing the United States and Mexico border. At midnight of December 22, he followed suit with that promise.
On January 25, just less than a week ago, Congress passed legislation to reopen the government for three weeks to discuss a budget for the wall. After missing more than a month’s worth of paychecks, furloughed government employees are beginning to receive backdated pay.
The shutdown, as I see it, is stupid.
I know an individual – whose identity will remain anonymous – who although not severely impacted by the shutdown, was urged to apply for unemployment. As far as I know, they are managing, for which I am grateful.
Unfortunately, however, savings only last for so long. As the re-opening of the government is only temporary, it is likely that this person will start encountering issues should the government shut down once more.
I’m also concerned about the well-being of our national parks.
Television coverage of some state parks proved their condition disgusting. Trash cans overflowed and litter was scattered everywhere.
Moreover, areas that experience heavy snowfall have suffered from a lack of drivers to clear the roads.
Lazaro Guerrero, an economics sophomore at UTRGV, believes the government should be responsible for the hours of work that these employees put in.
“If the [government] is stopping people from getting paid, they should be responsible for making sure people are at least eating and getting their basic necessities,” Guerrero said. “It’s really rough for them not having a paycheck… The government should be held responsible for that. They should pay them back for all the trouble they went through… Give them their paychecks and more.”
Trump has said he will declare a state of emergency – a situation that would empower the government to perform actions that would normally not be permitted – if the $5.6 billion isn’t approved.
Although the president has legal authority to declare a national emergency under certain circumstances, explained Clyde Barrow, professor and chair of the UTRGV Political Science department, a specific event constituting an emergency must occur.
During the Korean War, Harry Truman, the United States’ 33rd president, attempted to declare a national emergency to seize control of the country’s steel mills. The Supreme Court didn’t buy it.
The horrific events of 9/11, however, did merit a declaration.
“It’s not something you orchestrate or that you declare because you didn’t get your way on a particular piece of [legislation],” he said. According to a Qunnipiac University National Poll conducted on January 29, 41 percent of respondents support the building of a border all, with 55 percent against it.
Of course, it is critical to monitor borders to assure malicious people don’t enter the U.S.
Robin Nelson, a business administration freshman at Texas A&M University, said it is imperative to improve the security of our borders.
“It’s my understanding that a barrier is a necessary part of a comprehensive plan to increase border security,” Nelson said. “I believe it’s important to secure our borders.”
Lasting 35 days, 2019’s shutdown was the longest in U.S. history — followed only by a shutdown during the Clinton administration – that lasted 21 days. Over 800,00 federal employees missed their paychecks and many have filed for unemployment.
Slowly, federal workers stopped showing up to work, calling in sick or providing another excuse.
According to Barrow, some airport workers faced a lot of stress, such as the closing of LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
Since the first work period of government employees not getting paid, families have gone hungry, with many turning to food banks for assistance.
There are benefit programs available, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps people buy the food they need for good health, according to the program’s webpage. Due to the uncertainty brought about by the shutdown, SNAP benefits were distributed early for the month of February.
Alyssa Guajardo, a physical therapy junior at UTRGV, said it breaks her heart to see families struggling.
“I do believe it’s important for people who are working in the government – in the future – to save money on the side… you never know when this type of situation will occur,” she said. “It breaks my heart to see people having to rely on the food banks. But I’m happy to see the people who are helping out at the food banks and the business’s helping out these federal workers during this time of need.”
On January 10, President Trump landed at the McAllen Miller International Airport to speak to local, state, and federal officials and to evaluate the border. On both sides of 10th Street, rallies of Trump supporters and protesters were found; aside from two arrests, no records of misconduct were reported.
What I hope Trump’s visit to McAllen brings is more awareness of the situation at the border. Perhaps his supporters, who are not close to the border, will realize how nice it is and want to learn more about its culture.
Trump swore to protect this country and, in my opinion, he has failed.
He is not doing a good job and it is upsetting that children are missing meals because of a needless wall.