US hits record government shutdown lasting over 1 month
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
The United States is experiencing the longest government shutdown in its history. For 36 days, federal agencies have remained closed, and hundreds of thousands of employees have not been receiving pay, NBC News reports.
The prolonged standoff between US President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders in Congress has led to the longest government shutdown in American history.
Today marks the 36th day since federal agencies were suspended, surpassing the previous record — the 35-day shutdown at the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, which also took place during Trump's first presidential term.
The current shutdown has now exceeded even the 21-day crisis of 1995–1996.
At that time, the dispute concerned his demand to fund the construction of a border wall, which Democrats refused to approve.
The current suspension of government operations reflects a deep political crisis.
"I wouldn't use the word surprised...It disappoints me," said Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana.
Despite the absence of a final agreement, some senators note that negotiations are being conducted behind the scenes, and there is some progress being made.
Meanwhile, the consequences of the prolonged shutdown are becoming increasingly painful. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees remain unpaid, and many are turning to local food banks for support to feed their families.
Flight delays are worsening due to a shortage of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration security staff. And 42 million Americans who receive assistance through the federal SNAP food program will receive only half of their usual aid in November.
"The stories from this weekend were shameful, sickening... People are overwhelming food banks, handing out groceries instead of Halloween candy, and teachers are paying out of pocket to provide their students with extra food. Across America, appalling scenes were seen of people worried they wouldn't be able to feed their families and even themselves," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Despite the crisis, leaders of both parties are not showing readiness for quick solutions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune brought the funding bill to a vote for the 14th time yesterday, which would allow the government to resume operations. Democrats rejected the initiative again, insisting that Trump first negotiate tax benefits for healthcare.
Just yesterday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed a compromise to end the political stalemate and restart the House of Representatives.
According to economists, the daily losses to the US economy amount to approximately $15 billion. Budget constraints have already affected many federal agencies, including the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which was forced to furlough approximately 1,400 employees without pay.
