The United States entered the 20th day of its government shutdown on Monday after the Senate again failed to advance a funding resolution, marking an 11th failed vote amid escalating political tensions and nationwide protests. The 50-43 vote fell short of the threshold needed to end the impasse, extending one of the longest government shutdowns in US history.
What caused the Senate’s latest failure?
The impasse continues to hinge on a dispute over health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which expire at the end of the year. Senate Democrats refused to support the House continuing resolution, demanding that it include a provision to extend those subsidies.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson kept the chamber closed in an extended recess, arguing that the strategy would pressure Senate Democrats to pass the House bill “with no policy additions.”
Johnson, who appeared at a news conference alongside Republican leaders including House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, dismissed the Democratic opposition as politically motivated.
“That’s exactly why Chuck Schumer is pandering in this whole charade. We’ve made it clear from the very beginning that the shutdown is about one thing and one thing only: Chuck Schumer’s political survival,” Johnson said.
The comments came after the weekend’s “No Kings” protests, where millions of protesters across the country denounced authoritarianism and political corruption.
How do Republicans respond to internal criticism?
Despite Johnson’s insistence that the strategy will succeed, cracks are appearing in Republican ranks.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene was outspoken in her criticism of the speaker’s approach and called on the House to resume work immediately.
“The House should be working in session,” Greene wrote on X. “We should be finalizing appropriations. Our committees should be functioning. We should be passing bills to make President Trump’s executive orders permanent. I do not respect the decision to refuse to work.”
Her remarks, reflecting frustration on the party’s right wing, highlight growing concern over the extended congressional recess that has left the House in a state of inactivity since Sept. 19.
How long could the US government shutdown last?
The shutdown, which began Oct. 1, is now the longest full government shutdown in U.S. history and will soon become the second-longest overall if it continues beyond Tuesday. Only the 35-day partial shutdown during Donald Trump’s presidency (2018–19) lasted longer.
The economic and administrative consequences are deepening. On Monday, the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) began laying off approximately 1,400 federal employees, many of whom are responsible for maintaining and modernizing America’s nuclear weapons arsenal.
A spokesman for the department confirmed that Energy Secretary Chris Wright will address the holiday at a news conference in Las Vegas later in the day.
What are the broader implications of the US government shutdown?
The federal workforce is bearing the brunt of the crisis. Senate employees have been informed that they will no longer receive their remuneration during the shutdown.
At the same time, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defended its decision to suspend more than $11 billion in projects within the Army Corps of Engineers, citing the need to “refocus federal funding.”
Traffic problems are also increasing. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported longer wait times at major airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as staff shortages increased as workers called in sick or sought temporary employment.
Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker criticized the NNSA furloughs, arguing that “the decision undermines national security.”
What are the political reactions in Washington?
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett expressed cautious optimism on CNBC, suggesting the impasse could end soon.
“I think (Senate Minority Leader Chuck) Schumer’s shutdown will probably end sometime this week,” Hassett said.
He speculated that some Democrats had put off negotiations until after the “No Kings” protests, which drew millions of protesters across the country.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Whip John Thune proposed a bill to pay federal workers affected by the shutdown. But House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries rejected the measure, calling it a “political ploy to pick and choose” which employees will get paid.
“It seems to be more of a political ploy to pick and choose which employees get paid,” Jeffries said.
Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville also opposed the idea, arguing that paying workers will now “reduce pressure on lawmakers to negotiate their way out of the shutdown.”
What else happened in Washington today?
Despite the ongoing standoff, President Donald Trump hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the White House, where the two leaders signed a rare minerals deal aimed at boosting US-Australian cooperation in critical supply chains – a move that could raise tensions with China.
Separately, an appeals court granted the administration permission to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, a decision Trump officials hailed as a “significant victory” in their ongoing legal battles over executive power.
Where did the US government shutdown come from here?
With each failed vote, the path to reopening the government becomes more uncertain. Lawmakers face growing pressure from federal workers, contractors and the public as the consequences of prolonged inaction ripple across the economy.
The 50-to-43 ratio — with no new defectors from the Democratic Party — underscores how deep the political divide has become. As the shutdown threatens to overshadow historical records, Washington remains at an impasse.
For now, the message from Capitol Hill is clear: the standoff continues, the protests grow stronger, and the nation waits.
