The federal government shutdown continued into its 20th day Monday with no resolution amid a bitter deadlock in Congress.
Who is to blame for the government shutdown? Americans speak out
From furloughed workers to small business owners, Americans told USA TODAY Network how the government shutdown is impacting their lives.
WASHINGTON – The federal government shutdown entered its 20th day on Monday as a bitter standoff continues between Democrats and Republicans in Congress with no resolution in sight.
If the shutdown lasts 21 days, it will be the second-longest in U.S. history, matching the 1995-1996 standoff under President Bill Clinton. The longest shutdown period, 35 days, occurred in late 2018 and 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
If a deal is not reached by the end of the week, there is a risk of an even longer government shutdown, as President Trump departs on October 26 for a multi-country Asian tour that could last five to six days.
White House shelves Blue City project, lays off workers
The White House continues to ratchet up pressure on Democrats, pausing federal infrastructure projects in blue cities and laying off thousands of workers. But the mass layoffs were thwarted by a federal judge in California, who ordered the Trump administration to halt the layoffs.
Approximately 750,000 federal employees have been furloughed due to the government shutdown. President Trump threatened that some of them may return to work but not receive their back pay.
Republican leaders have shown no interest in adding Democratic policy demands to funding resolutions. Democrats say they will not support a government reopening bill unless Republicans reverse Medicaid cuts passed this summer and extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Senate to vote again on funding measure
The Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on the 11th Republican-backed government funding bill through Nov. 21, with a vote scheduled for 5:30 p.m. E.T.
Senate Democrats have blocked passage of the bill on 10 previous votes. Republicans fell short of the 60 Senate votes needed to block the Democratic filibuster.
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who serves as a Democrat and a Republican, each voted in favor of the Republican funding measure. Republicans are urging moderate Democrats to follow their lead. – Joey Garrison
President Trump invites Republican senators
President Trump returned to the White House Sunday night after spending the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Punchbowl News reports that the president plans to host Republican senators for a “thank you” lunch in the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday.
President Trump is grateful to Republican senators who came together during the government shutdown and approved more than 100 Trump nominees by changing Senate rules to approve most presidential nominees at once. – Joey Garrison
Is the Postal Service affected by the government shutdown?
Postal services, including mail delivery, will continue despite the government shutdown.
The U.S. Postal Service confirmed in a statement on Sept. 25 that operations will not be disrupted by the closure and that post offices will continue to operate “as usual.”
“Our services will not be affected by the government shutdown because we are an independent entity and are typically funded through the sale of our products and services rather than through taxes,” it said in a statement.
Will the government shutdown affect air travel?
it’s complicated. Transportation Security Administration personnel and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers are considered essential employees. Therefore, they are required to work during the shutdown even if they are not receiving a paycheck.
Although delays overall are fairly low, staffing levels at some air traffic control facilities are causing problems. Earlier this month, the FAA had to delay a flight to Burbank, Calif., after the tower there was deserted for several hours in the evening.
It is important to note that not all delays during the shutdown are due to lack of funds. Regardless of what’s happening in Washington, weather remains a major factor in flight delays.
Still, in previous shutdowns, more of these essential workers started missing work, which led to longer security lines and delays at some airports.
– Zack Wictor and Kathleen Wong
X Contact Joey Garrison at @joeygarrison.
