U.S. Shutdown Nears Historic Record as Funding Standoff Deepens

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The United States is on the brink of setting a new record for the longest government shutdown in its history, as the funding impasse between Republicans and Democrats enters its 34th day with no resolution in sight.

President Donald Trump on Sunday called on Democrats to drop their demand for expanded healthcare subsidies and instead support a Republican-backed temporary funding bill. The proposed measure would reopen the government while maintaining current spending levels and allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to be distributed.

Trump emphasized that reopening federal operations could happen immediately if Democrats agreed to the plan. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he said, “If they vote to open up the country, it’s opened up immediately, we don’t even have to think about that.”

The administration has faced criticism for the suspension of food assistance during the shutdown, with courts ruling that the government must find a way to distribute benefits. Officials argued that contingency funds were insufficient to sustain the program through November.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused the administration of “weaponizing hunger” and reaffirmed Democrats’ willingness to negotiate a bipartisan deal. “We’re asking Republicans to sit down any time, any place, anywhere, to find a path that actually makes life better for the American people,” Jeffries said in a television interview.

Trump maintained that he was open to discussions on fixing the Affordable Care Act once the government reopens. Democrats, however, have insisted that additional subsidies must be part of any spending agreement to offset rising healthcare premiums.

The president also renewed his push for the Senate to abolish the filibuster, a move that many in his own party oppose. While Republicans hold a majority with 53 seats, 60 votes are required to pass major legislation. “The Republicans have to get tougher,” Trump said, signaling little change in the partisan standoff that has left key government operations frozen for over a month.