The United States government shutdown entered its 35th day on Tuesday, matching the record set during President Donald Trump’s first term — now tying for the longest government shutdown in American history. As the impasse drags on, both Republicans and Democrats continue to trade blame for the deadlock that has crippled key public services and left millions of Americans without support.
The shutdown, which began after Congress failed to approve funding beyond September 30, has pushed the federal government into paralysis. Food assistance for millions of low-income Americans has been halted, federal workers from airports to law enforcement remain unpaid, and economic data used by the Federal Reserve to guide policy has been disrupted.
Despite several attempts to end the standoff, the Senate has voted more than a dozen times against a House-approved stopgap funding bill, with no shift in lawmakers’ positions. Trump’s Republican Party holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate but still requires seven Democratic votes to reach the 60-vote threshold for most legislation. Democrats, meanwhile, are withholding their support unless Republicans agree to extend healthcare insurance subsidies that help millions afford coverage.
“The victims of the Democrats’ shutdown are starting to pile up,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, urging Democrats to relent. “The question is how long are Democrats going to continue this — another month, two, three?”
His Democratic counterpart, Senator Chuck Schumer, countered sharply, accusing Trump of being distracted by trivial matters. “While Donald Trump is bragging about remodelling bathrooms at the White House, Americans are panicking about how they will afford healthcare next year,” Schumer remarked, referring to Trump’s recently publicized renovations.
Behind the scenes, however, some Senate sources indicated quiet progress in closed-door discussions between moderate lawmakers of both parties, suggesting that an eventual breakthrough could be approaching.
A shutdown unlike previous ones
This marks the 15th US government shutdown since 1981, but it stands out for both its unprecedented duration and political dynamics. Typically, shutdowns have been driven by Republican opposition to Democratic budgets. This time, the dynamic has flipped — with Democrats standing firm against Trump and the Republican majority.
“The political climate and the tensions that exist between the parties were so wide at the beginning of the shutdown, and even though bipartisan talks have continued, they remain just as wide now,” observed Rachel Snyderman, managing director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Centre.
The consequences have been severe. Food aid for 42 million Americans under the SNAP program expired on Saturday, leaving families without an average of $180 per month in benefits. While the Trump administration has pledged partial funding for November, it warned that disbursement could take weeks or months.
Education programs have also been hit. Head Start early learning centers for low-income children are facing closures due to lack of new funding. Meanwhile, federal employees — including military personnel, air traffic controllers, and law enforcement officers — are missing paychecks. Airport staff shortages have caused widespread travel delays and cancellations, affecting more than 3.2 million passengers since the shutdown began, according to an airline association.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that if the shutdown continues for another week, it could cost the US economy over $11 billion, dealing a major blow to growth and stability.
Trump digs in as divisions widen
President Trump has largely focused on foreign policy issues — from Gaza to Russia — during the shutdown, but in recent days he has renewed his hardline stance, calling for the abolition of the Senate filibuster to allow Republicans to pass funding without Democratic support.
Asked whether he was willing to compromise, Trump told CBS 60 Minutes, “I’m not gonna do it by being extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way.” On social media, he warned Senate Republicans to act quickly or face electoral losses in next year’s midterms, writing, “If we do terminate the filibuster, we will get everything approved … if we don’t, they (Democrats) are far more likely to do well in the upcoming elections.”
Thune, however, has rejected calls to end the filibuster, maintaining that the rule ensures bipartisan cooperation.
Recent Reuters/Ipsos polls show that 50% of Americans blame Republicans for the shutdown, while 43% fault Democrats, revealing a nearly even divide in public opinion.
A few moderate Democrats have sided with Republicans to reopen the government, arguing that the immediate damage outweighs any potential political leverage. Still, others remain adamant that concessions are necessary to reassert congressional authority over spending decisions and limit executive overreach by the Trump administration.
“The trust deficit has been there for a long time because of how Trump’s acted,” said Senator Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat. “This is a big part of the challenge that we have before us right now — any deal we get, how do we know that a deal is going to be a deal?”
As the standoff continues with no resolution in sight, millions of Americans are left grappling with uncertainty — their livelihoods hanging in the balance of a deeply divided Congress and a combative White House.
Leave a comment