Government Shutdown Persists Over Month Amid Senate Democrats' Opposition

The ongoing government shutdown, now lasting nearly a month, is a point of contention between Republicans and Democrats, with Republicans controlling the White House, Senate, and House, thus technically able to end the shutdown by bypassing the 60-vote rule in the Senate. Republicans accuse Democrats of using the shutdown as leverage for political power and control, pointing to repeated Democratic votes to keep the government closed despite the consequences for federal workers and American families. Democrats, however, argue that Republicans hold a narrow Senate majority and require Democratic support to pass funding bills, which Democrats have opposed due to the inclusion of a costly $1.5 trillion price tag and attempts to renegotiate existing subsidies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar for their roles in prolonging the shutdown, emphasizing the impact on American farmers and calling for a focus on reopening the government. Republican lawmakers call for bipartisan cooperation to pass a clean continuing resolution to end the shutdown, while accusing Democrats of prioritizing political goals over the welfare of Americans. The dispute reflects deep partisan divides over budget priorities and governance strategies amid significant public hardship.