WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown has entered its 36th day, breaking the record as the longest ever, disrupting the lives of millions of Americans with federal program cuts and flight delays. Many federal workers nationwide are left without paychecks.
President Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats over their demands until they agree to reopen the government, creating skepticism among Democrats regarding Trump's reliability in fulfilling promises amidst previous restrictions on SNAP food aid.
With Trump largely sidelined, discussions among centrist senators seeking a resolution have intensified, prompted by the recent election results signaling shifts in voter sentiment. However, earlier meetings among Senate Democrats ended without a certain path forward.
The longest shutdown on record has resulted in severe disruptions to food aid, child care funds, and furloughs impacting hundreds of thousands of working Americans. Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the urgency of the matter, emphasizing that no one benefits politically from such a standoff.
Discussions also center around bipartisan agreements for funding various government aspects, though substantial hurdles remain related to health care subsidies and overall funding strategies.
Despite Trump's push to eliminate the filibuster as a means to bypass negotiations and end the shutdown, GOP senators maintain that doing so goes against the checks and balances within the Senate. The current political climate casts uncertainty over reaching a feasible resolution.
