As the government shutdown stretches into its 29th day, the same message is being portrayed through every Senate Committee room on Capitol Hill: the consequences of this government shutdown are no longer political, but have become extremely personal to many Americans. With offices closed to new staff and schedules being frozen for interns like me, most of the action on the Capitol has been the Senate briefings and hearings that continue despite the worsening hold the shutdown has on Washington, D.C.
The polarization of the government was visible today when I went to the Indian Affairs Committee, and the panelists explained that halted funding for programs like SNAP could hit Native American communities hardest. As Mr. Kerry Bird from the National Indian Education Association explained, “What began as a budget dispute in Washington has become a daily crisis in Indian country.” His words spoke to me, as it reminded me that behind every policy delay carry real consequences for people and communities across the nation, revealing the human costs of a divided government.
At the Arjun Mody Attorney General hearing, Senator Wyden brought out a large red poster showcasing in bold letters that the Republican-led Senate Finance Committee has failed to hold a healthcare meeting for over 400 days. He explained that Republicans are unwilling to negotiate about rising healthcare costs for Americans and that they are also unwilling to debate on the current government shutdown. His speech and display showed the urgency for action, trying to ensure that Americans won’t have to face more uncertainty over healthcare and financial security.
This week would have been my fourth week of my five-week total internship in the House, but since the beginning of the shutdown it has offered me an unfortunate truth: even amid government polarization and a shutdown, the absence of negotiations on both sides only allows for more divides to fill the void where agreements and compromise should be emerging.
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