Government shutdown now 2nd longest in U.S. history
The U.S. government shutdown on Wednesday entered its 22nd day, marking the second-longest federal funding cut ever, with no end in sight.
This milestone means that the two longest shutdowns both occurred while President Donald Trump was in office.
The longest shutdown began in December 2018 during Trump’s first term and lasted nearly five weeks. That shutdown stemmed from a dispute over funding for Trump’s contentious immigration policy.
The current shutdown stemmed from Senate Democrats’ refusal to vote on a short-term government funding bill backed by Republicans, citing a lack of additional spending for health care and other provisions.
The GOP-backed interim bill, which would continue funding at current levels through Nov. 21, failed to pass the Senate for a 12th time Wednesday evening. The vote was mostly along party lines, 54 to 46.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. But any funding bill requires 60 votes to pass.
Democrats want any funding bill to extend enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, under which health insurance premiums for millions of Americans could rise significantly in 2026. These loans are planned to expire at the end of the year.
Republicans accused Democrats of holding the government hostage and refused to negotiate on health issues until the shutdown is over.
The Republican-backed bill, which would have funded only the US military, failed in a procedural vote last Thursday.
“We’ve negotiated. I don’t know what there is to negotiate,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) said after meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
“This is about opening up the government,” Thune said. “We’ve now offered them several ways out. Democrats want something completely untenable.”
Democratic leaders in Congress have asked to speak with Trump and have him join negotiations to resolve the shutdown.
Asked if Trump would talk to Democrats, Thune told reporters, “At some point, but open the government first.”
