The ongoing federal government shutdown in the United States is now in its 38th day – the longest in history after surpassing the previous record of 35 days set in 2019 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The Republican majority in the House of Representatives has passed a clean funding bill to reopen the government, but Senate Democrats continue to use limited leverage in the upper chamber to block the legislation as they seek concessions on health care funding while Republicans have argued they will only negotiate on healthcare costs once the government has been reopened.
Republicans hold a 53-47 seat majority in the Senate but passage of the funding bill requires a minimum of 60 votes – as calls from the President to end this filibuster now grows.
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