The U.S. government shutdown on Wednesday entered its twenty second day, turning into the second-longest federal funding lapse ever, for ever and ever.
The milestone implies that the 2 longest shutdowns have each occurred whereas President Donald Trump was in workplace.
The longest shutdown started in December 2018, in Trump’s first time period, and dragged on for almost 5 weeks. That shutdown stemmed from a dispute about funding Trump’s contentious immigration coverage.
The present shutdown resulted from Senate Democrats refusing to vote for a short-term authorities funding invoice sponsored by Republicans, as a result of it lacks further spending on well being care and different provisions.
Democrats need any funding invoice to increase enhanced tax credit beneath the Reasonably priced Care Act, with out which medical health insurance premiums for tens of millions of People might rise considerably in 2026. These credit are set to run out on the finish of the 12 months.
Republicans have accused Democrats of holding the federal government hostage and have refused to barter on well being care points till after the shutdown is over.
Republicans maintain a 53-47 majority within the Senate. However 60 votes are wanted to go any funding invoice.
A stopgap funding decision that beforehand handed within the GOP-controlled Home has didn’t go within the Senate 11 instances.
A Republican-backed invoice that might solely grant funding to the U.S. navy failed in a procedural vote final Thursday.
There was no vote scheduled for Wednesday as of 10:45 a.m. ET.
“We now have negotiated. I do not know what there’s to barter,” Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., stated after assembly with Trump on the White Home on Tuesday.
“That is about opening up the federal government,” Thune stated. “We now have provided them a number of off-ramps now. The Democrats need one thing that is completely untenable.”
Democratic leaders in Congress have requested to talk with Trump and need him to get entangled in negotiations to resolve the shutdown.
Requested if Trump will converse with Democrats, Thune advised reporters, “Sooner or later, however open up the federal government first.”
