The federal government has now entered its longest full shutdown in American history, with no sign that Congress is moving toward a resolution.
The shutdown, now in its 22nd day, began when lawmakers failed to pass any of the 12 annual appropriations bills by the end of the fiscal year on September 30.
While both chambers have passed three separate funding measures each, they have not reconciled a single version, leaving most federal agencies without an approved budget.
As a result, nearly all departments that rely on annual discretionary funding are either paused or severely limited, with thousands of federal employees furloughed and others working without pay.
GOP Says Democrats Are Prolonging the Crisis
“This is now the longest full shutdown in American history,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said Tuesday.
“And yet again, Senate Democrats voted for the 11th time — 12 times overall, when you count House and Senate Democrats — to prolong the pain and keep the government closed.”
The Republican-controlled House passed a seven-week stopgap funding bill on September 19, designed to extend 2025 appropriations and allow lawmakers to negotiate a broader fiscal 2026 deal.
The continuing resolution (CR) passed largely along party lines.
In the Democrat-controlled Senate, however, the measure has failed 11 times as Democrats insist on pairing any government funding with an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
Military and Federal Workers Impacted
The shutdown has caused widespread disruption across federal agencies and programs.
Thousands of workers have been furloughed, while “essential” personnel, including congressional staffers, are working without pay.
Active-duty military members initially expected to go unpaid were compensated on October 15, after the Trump administration redirected Pentagon research funds to cover salaries.
It remains unclear whether the same workaround can be used for the October 30 pay period if the shutdown continues.
The current impasse surpasses previous records, including the 2014 full shutdown under Barack Obama and the 35-day partial shutdown during President Donald Trump’s first term, which did not halt several major departments.
Frustration Mounts on Capitol Hill
Lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration as the standoff continues.
“We have long since lost the plot — the purpose, you know, of the whole thing,” said Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV).
“Now it’s a food fight, and we have forgotten that on the other side of the food fight there’s a name and there’s a family… what this place needs more than anything is a constant IV of common sense.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) attempted to offer a compromise, suggesting a vote on extending the Obamacare subsidies after the government reopens.
Senate Democrats, however, rejected the proposal, citing distrust of their Republican counterparts.
“I think we would operate much better if people trusted each other,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said Democrats made a “strategic error” by refusing to move forward.
“Now they don’t have a graceful way out, and that’s a problem,” he said.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) took a swipe at House Republicans for being out of session during the stalemate.
“I will just say it’s very hard to get out of a shutdown if the majority party has an unexpected month-long break,” he said.
A Prolonged Standoff
Analysts say the funding dispute reflects deep divisions over spending priorities, with Democrats pushing for continued subsidies and expanded social spending, while Republicans emphasize fiscal restraint and national defense funding.
For now, the federal government remains at a standstill, and with both sides entrenched, the end of the record-breaking shutdown appears nowhere in sight.
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