The Senate's latest attempt to pass a 'clean' continuing resolution failed Tuesday by a 54â€"44 vote, six short of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster.
The shutdown stems from a prolonged standoff in Congress over a new funding deal. Lawmakers in both chambers have failed to reach agreement despite 14 separate votes on temporary funding measures.
The deadlock has pitted Democrats, who are demanding an extension of healthcare subsidies for low-income Americans, against Republicans, who accuse them of tying unrelated policy priorities to the government funding bill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed cautious optimism this week that a resolution might be nearing, saying his 'gut' suggested 'an off-ramp' could be close. But for now, there are few signs of concrete progress.
The previous record for the longest government shutdown was 35 days, set during President Donald Trump's first term in 2019. Like the current crisis, that shutdown was driven by a bitter partisan dispute, then over border wall funding.
Mounting impacts nationwide
The effects of the ongoing closure are spreading across critical sectors. More than 800,000 federal employees have already missed multiple paychecks, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned this week that the nation's air travel system could face major disruptions if the shutdown continues. He said about 13,000 air traffic controllers are working without pay.
"If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos," Duffy told Fox News. "You will see mass flight delays. You'll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don't have the air traffic controllers."
The shutdown is also taking a toll on low-income families who depend on government assistance. Funding interruptions have affected the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to about 42 million Americans, roughly one in eight people nationwide.
A federal court recently ordered the Trump administration to release contingency funds to partially sustain SNAP payments, but President Trump has indicated on social media that full benefits will only resume when 'Radical Left Democrats open up government.' The White House later stated that it would comply with the court's directive.
Economic consequences and public frustration
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the shutdown could cost the U.S. economy an estimated $14 billion if it extends to eight weeks. Analysts warn that disruptions in sectors such as aviation, healthcare, and food assistance could worsen if no deal is reached soon.
The political fallout is also deepening. A Gallup poll released this week shows public approval of Congress has fallen to 15 percent, down 11 points from last month, with 79 percent of Americans expressing disapproval of how lawmakers are handling the standoff.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blamed Republicans for 'surging healthcare costs' tied to stalled subsidy extensions, while Thune accused Democrats of worsening the shutdown's toll on American families.
Despite rising frustration across the country, efforts to end the shutdown remain gridlocked.
Moderate lawmakers from both parties have indicated a willingness to broker a compromise ahead of Thanksgiving on November 27, but as of now, Washington remains at a standstill, and millions of Americans are bearing the cost of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/u-s-government-shutdown-becomes-longest-in-history
