Part 7/11:
Inside Democratic ranks, cracks are emerging. Several vulnerable senatorial Democrats—particularly those in swing states—are already breaking ranks and voting to end the shutdown or oppose the more extreme measures. This internal dissent is likely to grow as more Democratic programs face permanent cuts.
The shutdown’s escalation comes at a time when over 300,000 federal workers have already left their jobs under Trump’s tenure. The ongoing elimination of these positions, particularly in agencies like the EPA which is gutting nearly 90% of its staff, represents a radical rethinking of federal bureaucracy.