The US federal government officially shut down as of October 1. This “shutdown” stems from Congress’ failure to approve the budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
Due to the lack of compromise between Republicans and Democrats, non-essential government functions have been suspended, hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been furloughed, and the implementation of social programs and some public services has come to a halt. This crisis, expected to cost the US economy billions of dollars each week, is also eroding public trust.
Speaking to Baku TV, political analyst Ahmad Shahidov stated that this “shutdown” is not merely a technical budget issue but rather a reflection of deep political confrontation: “Dialogue opportunities between Republicans and Democrats have narrowed, and this paralyzes the functioning of the government. The suspension of social programs, federal workers’ salaries, research and projects that directly affect people’s daily lives is the direct result of the lack of compromise. If it continues for long, both the US economy and its international reputation will suffer serious damage.”
Ahmad Shahidov also noted that President Donald Trump is turning this process into a demonstration of political power in order to strengthen his own base:
“The Trump administration is pushing plans to shake bureaucracy with harsh steps, eliminate certain social programs, and even deploy federal forces to cities. This approach, on one hand, sends a message to his electorate, but on the other hand, further strains relations with democratic institutions. How the US will overcome this political crisis in the coming months will be decisive for both its internal stability and its international image.”
