'All they have to do is open up the country': Trump calls on Democrats to end shutdown

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (November 2) called on Democrats to end the government shutdown telling reporters, "All they have to do is open up the country."

AI Brief

Democrats want health insurance tax credits extended before reopening government. while Republicans demand reopening first.
42 million Americans face food aid cuts and 750,000 federal workers are furloughed or unpaid due to the shutdown.
The shutdown could cost the US economy up to US$14 billion and reduce GDP by as much as 2% in the fourth quarter.

Democrats want Republicans to negotiate an extension of federal tax credits to help Americans purchase private health insurance before funding the government. Republicans want the government reopened before beginning negotiations.

As a result of the impasse, nearly 42 million Americans will begin losing food assistance on Saturday, when funding for food stamp benefits is expected to lapse.

About 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed since government funding ended. The Trump administration has taken steps to pay troops, federal law enforcement and immigration officers. Other federal employees are working without pay.

The shutdown could cost the U.S. economy between US$7 billion and US$14 billion, shaving up to 2% from gross domestic product in the fourth quarter due to the lapse in government spending, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.