      Donald Trump officially announced his candidacy for presidency on June 16, 2015. One of his main campaign promises was to build a wall. “I will build a great wall. Nobody builds a wall better than me-and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for the wall. Mark my words,” Trump stated. The presidential candidate replayed those exact words several times, as he used the wall rhetoric as a tool to energize his base at campaign rallies.Â
          After pulling off a stunning upset, President-elect Trump continued to speak on building a wall and having Mexico finance it. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto responded by stating his disappointment in the decision made by the United States. “Mexico does not believe in walls. I have said it again and again. Mexico will not pay for any wall,” the Mexican President said. As Mexico’s leadership insists on not paying for the wall, Trump altered his game plan as he demands funding for the wall in order to fulfill one of his campaign promises. Trump is confident some way somehow if the wall is funded and built, Mexico will reimburse the United States. In this scenario, the U.S. taxpayers will initially pick up the border wall tab.
          Trump’s request for $5.6 billion in funding was rejected by the Democrats. The counter offer by the Democrats stands at $1.3 billion. Due to the political disconnect, threats of a government shutdown loomed, and on December 11, the President stated “I am proud to shut down the government for border security.” Republicans felt confident Trump would sign a short term funding bill to keep the government open, but on December 20, Trump had a change of heart. The government shutdown officially began on December 22, 2018. Â
          The feud over the wall and the decision to shutdown government is crippling the country. Under the shutdown most I.R.S. affairs have ceased with tax filing season about to begin. According to the Wall Street Journal, the I.R.S. doesn’t answer questions or pay tax refunds during a government shutdown. National parks and museums are closed. The post office remains open and your mail will continue to be delivered due to the fact the U.S. Postal Service has its own revenue stream. The Small Business Administration is not processing loans, and farmers needing assistance won’t receive any from the USDA during the government shutdown. Americans on food stamps will receive their February stamps a few weeks early. The USDA made a request for states to issue benefits on January 20, to take advantage of temporary funding.
          Innocent Americans caught in the middle of this feud are temporarily unemployed, and losing business. Across the country approximately 800,000 federal employees are either out of work, or working without pay as the battle over the 5 billion dollar wall continues. Fortunately the President and members of Congress will continue to receive their paychecks during the government shutdown. For some federal workers, the effects of the shutdown has brought them to the point of standing in line at a pop-up food bank in Rockville, Maryland to collect a box of free food. Claims for unemployment benefits connected to the shutdown are rising at a rapid pace in the District of Columbia, and the state of Maryland.Â
          With the damage from the border wall battle becoming visible, the President intensified his pursuit for funding. Trump’s latest threat is to declare a national emergency in the coming weeks to secure funding for the wall. He would later pull back from that declaration because of pressure from congressional Republicans, his own lawyers, and advisers. As the longest government shutdown in history continues, millions are praying for it to come to a close. In the meantime, this issue is definitely Making America Struggle Again.
