WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown has now entered its 36th day, marking a record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history. This unprecedented duration has led to widespread disruptions affecting millions of Americans, with significant cuts to essential federal programs, increasing flight delays, and hundreds of thousands of federal workers forced to work without pay.
President Donald Trump is currently refusing to negotiate with Democrats over their requests to extend expiring health insurance subsidies until they agree to reopen the government. However, Democrats remain skeptical about Trump's commitment, especially given recent administrative restrictions on SNAP food aid, despite court orders mandating available funds to prevent hunger.
Trump, who has previously set the record for the longest shutdown during his first term, is set to meet with GOP senators as conversations continue to stagnate. Meanwhile, Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., lamented, “We’re in a shutdown because our colleagues are unwilling to come to the table to talk about one simple thing: health care premiums.”
As discussions between members of Congress intensify, particularly among centrist senators attempting to negotiate an end to the deadlock, many anticipate that electoral outcomes from recent off-year elections could influence Republican strategies moving forward.
Senate Democrats have been strategizing, exploring various options, but they exited a lengthy meeting with no concrete plans laid out. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer remarked, “We’re exploring all the options,” indicating ongoing efforts to break the stalemate.
