Operation Stop the Shutdown

January 25 marks the end of the longest government shutdown in United States history, as well as the beginning of new legislation that will fund government agencies until Feb. 15.
This buys time to scrounge funding for President Donald Trump’s long-promised, campaign-trademarked border wall spanning the southern border between the United States and Mexico.
Not only will the wall divide two nations, but it will also further divide political ideologies between Republicans and Democrats as they fail to find a compromise to further fund Trump’s plans to build the wall.
“This was in no way a concession,” President Trump tweeted on Jan. 25, following the end of the government shutdown. “It was taking care of millions of people who were getting badly hurt by the Shutdown with the understanding that in 21 days, if no deal is done, it’s off to the races!”
Instead of being met with a resolution to the long shutdown, we are left with a grace period of 21 days between Jan. 25 and Feb. 15 to reach a deal for funding before the government enters a shutdown once more, driving the economic cost further and further upwards.
According to USA Today, this 35-day shutdown cost an estimated $6 billion; almost $300 million over the wanted price of the border wall at $5.7 billion, making this shutdown not only the longest in history, but also the most expensive.
The end of the government shutdown comes at the hardline negotiating set forth by Democratic Party leaders Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “We’ll continue to negotiate, but the first order of business: open up the government,” Schumer said during a press conference on Jan. 9.
It is unclear how events will proceed from here, but speculation reveals a myriad of options for both parties.
Firstly, and most obviously, if neither side can reach an agreement come Feb. 15 and the government shuts down once more, it will add to the economic damage caused by the previous period of shutdown, and will further harm government personnel. About 420,000 federal workers go unpaid during periods of shutdown, according to CBS News.
A second option – President Trump can proceed with his plan to declare the lack of a wall on the southern border a national emergency and circumvent Congress to enact his presidential authority to build the wall using military personnel and delegating the cost of the wall to the Pentagon.
While legal, the ramifications of using such a power to bypass established limits on the executive branch of the government comes with its own implications of abuse of presidential power, no doubt spelling trouble for Trump in the future if he chooses to move forward with this course of action.
A last option – both sides of Congress can reach a middle ground for funding and continue government operation as usual.
For those hoping for cooperation spanning party lines over one side triumphing, this may seem like the best outcome. What will happen in the end remains to be seen. Either a deal is made, or Feb. 15 brings yet another shutdown.