Shutdown Becomes Second-Longest; Stalemate Persists

The U.S. federal government has been shut down for about three weeks (roughly 20–21 days), making it the second-longest shutdown in history and causing missed paychecks for federal workers, furloughs of some safety-critical staff and interruptions to public services. President Trump hosted Senate Republicans at the White House, urging them to remain steadfast and refuse negotiations while the government is closed, a meeting Democrats criticized as a celebratory “pep rally.” Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chuck Schumer, have repeatedly voted down GOP short-term funding measures, saying any reopening must extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and address broader affordability. Republican lawmakers in vulnerable districts are pressuring House leaders to pass a short-term shutdown package to relieve constituent pain while reserving health-policy fights for later. White House advisers and some strategists say the shutdown could end this week, but several GOP senators expect any short-term continuing resolution will need extension past Nov. 21 if no deal is reached. Democrats and other critics accuse Trump of wanting to prolong the stalemate — NBC reported a Democratic congressman saying Trump “wants to break the record” — as both sides warn the impasse risks worsening economic and security harms.