Government Shutdown 

By David Luttenberg 

Washington, DC-  

On Sunday, Oct. 1, the imminent government shutdown was averted when President Biden signed a temporary funding bill that keeps federal agencies open. The bill also extends the period to keep the government open until Nov.ember 17th, or until a further resolution is reached. The federal government was headed straight for a prolonged shutdown, posing a problem for workers in every state, as well as the millions that depended on them. After waiting with baited breath, the country can relax for another month at the least. The increased budget comes at the cost of Ukraine aid, to the joy of many Republican lawmakers, instead allocating money to federal agencies and increasing the federal disaster assistance fund by $16 billion. 

Congress has experienced a tumultuous month leading up to and since the bill signing that extended the government shutdown deadline. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and the Republicans in the house were by and large opposed to extending the deadline by any means. McCarthy's far-right flank had promised that they would oppose any short term funding plan. So when McCarthy cooperated with the Democrats and achieved their goal of the short term funding bill, it became his nail in the coffin for his standing in the House. 

Speaking on the floor of the House, McCarthy said, “If somebody wants to remove me because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try, but I think this country is too important.” Following House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's sudden agreement with the Democrats in Congress, fellow Republican Congressmen ousted him on Oct.ober 3rd, being the first ever situation in which this has happened. This occasion marks a historic vote, possibly setting the precedent of future Speakers being ousted for not vehemently supporting their party.  

Possible addition of how since then, house as struggled to pick new speaker