US Government Shutdown Enters 20th Day Longest Full Closure in History

The U.S. government shutdown has reached its 20th day, marking the longest full closure in history and the third-longest overall, with no resolution in sight as partisan stalemates persist. Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, have refused to reopen the government without passing a clean continuing resolution, while Senate Democrats demand the extension of Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies, which expire at the end of the year. GOP leaders are divided over the duration of any continuing resolution, with some favoring a short-term fix and others, including Senate Majority Leader Thune, hinting at a longer-term funding extension into 2026 if the impasse continues. The shutdown's effects are increasingly severe, impacting federal workers who face missed paychecks, curtailed public services, and threats to national security operations, including furloughs at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Criticism has emerged within the Republican Party, with figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene calling for Congress to return to work, and some Democratic senators warning about the political costs of the ongoing shutdown strategy. Despite multiple failed votes in the Senate, no bipartisan solution has been reached, and the economic and social consequences deepen daily.