The U.S. government shutdown entered its 35th day on Tuesday, tying the record for the longest shutdown set during Trump's first term, as Republicans and Democrats in Congress continued to blame each other for the deadlock. The losses are mounting day by day. Food aid to the poor has been disrupted for the first time by a government shutdown that has seen federal employees from airports to law enforcement to the military face furloughs, leaving the economy in a blind spot with limited government reporting.
The Senate has voted more than a dozen times against the temporary funding bill passed by the House, and not a single member has changed his position. Trump's Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but most bills require support from at least seven Democrats to reach the chamber's 60-vote threshold. Democrats refused to vote in favor of the measure, aiming to extend some health insurance subsidies.
"The victims of the shutdown caused by the Democrats are increasing," Senate Majority Leader Thune said on Monday. "The question is, how long do Democrats want to keep this going? One month? Two months? Three months?"
Senate Democratic leader Schumer noted on Monday that Trump's attention has shifted elsewhere.
"While Trump brags about renovating the White House bathroom, Americans are panicking about how they will afford health insurance next year," Schumer said, referring to plans Trump unveiled on Friday to renovate the White House's Lincoln Bedroom bathroom.
However, there were rumors within the Senate on Monday that some progress may have been made in closed-door talks between the two parties.
This shutdown is different than before
This time is the 15th government shutdown since 1981. Unlike past shutdowns, this shutdown is not only long-lasting but also upending past partisan dynamics, which have often been instigated by Republicans.
Moreover, little has been done to end the shutdown. The House of Representatives has not held a vote since September 19 and is in recess, and Trump has been away from Washington several times.
“The political atmosphere and tensions between the two parties were very high at the beginning of the shutdown, and those tensions remain despite ongoing negotiations between the two parties,” said Rachel Snyderman, general manager of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center.
On Saturday, about 42 million Americans participating in the Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ran out of food assistance payments. Many families now lose an average of about $180 per month in food stamps.
The Trump administration said on Monday it would partially fund food assistance through November, but warned it could take weeks or months for the aid to be distributed.
With no new funding arriving on November 1, some Head Start early education programs for children from low-income families are also facing closure.
Federal government workers, such as law enforcement and military personnel, as well as airport security personnel and air traffic controllers, are currently unable to receive pay, leading to staffing shortages and travel delays. An airline industry group said on Monday that more than 3.2 million U.S. air travelers have been affected by flight delays or cancellations since the shutdown began.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if the shutdown continues for another week, it could cost the U.S. economy $11 billion. The lack of federal funds means the Fed cannot obtain enough government data to accurately judge employment and economic conditions, thereby affecting the Fed's policymaking.
Trump administration tests bottom line on shutdown
During the shutdown, Trump focused on foreign policy from Gaza to Russia to Asia. But recently he has begun taking a hard line, calling on Republicans to abolish the Senate's 60-vote filibuster threshold.
Asked whether a bipartisan deal could be brokered, Trump said on Sunday: "I'm not going to be blackmailed by Democrats who have lost their way."
On Tuesday, he again urged Senate Republicans to take action or risk losing next year's midterm elections.
"All elections, including the midterms, will be extremely competitive. If we end the filibuster, all bills will pass. If we don't, they are more likely to win in the upcoming elections," he wrote in a social media post.
Thune rejected the idea several times.
A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that Americans blame both parties in Congress for the shutdown, with 50% saying the main responsibility lies with Republicans and 43% saying the main responsibility lies with Democrats.