US government shutdown becomes second-longest in history

WASHINGTON

The government shutdown became the second-longest in US history on Wednesday, overtaking the 1995-1996 funding lapse as it entered its 22nd day with no breakthrough in negotiations.

The Senate blocked a stopgap funding measure on Monday for an 11th time, failing to move forward with a House-passed bill to fund the government until Nov. 21.

"October 22 marks another landmark. This is now the second-longest government shutdown of any kind ever in the history of our country, and it's just shameful. Democrats keep making history, but they're doing it for all the wrong reasons," US House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters.

Johnson said Republicans are trying to get the government open. "And that's why the nonpartisan clean CR (continuing resolution) was the obvious vehicle to do that," he said, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, calling the impasse a "Trump-Republican shutdown" that is harming Americans.

"Today is Day 22 of the Trump Republican shutdown of the federal government, and all across the country, everyday Americans are hurting. Hard-working federal employees are working without pay or have been furloughed from their positions," Jeffries said at a meeting on the effects of the shutdown.

He warned that if the shutdown continues, critical safety net programs could soon be affected, including help millions of low-income families rely on.

"Folks may even lose nutritional assistance, benefits that they depend on to feed themselves, their children and their families and keep food on the table," he said.

The shutdown, triggered by a budget standoff between Republicans and Democrats, has led to widespread disruptions across federal agencies.

Jeffries urged Republican lawmakers to return to the negotiating table and work toward a bipartisan solution.

"There's a simple solution for Republicans: Get back to work, sit down with Democrats. We're ready, we're willing, we're able to reopen the government, to enact a bipartisan spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people, and to address the Republican health care crisis that is devastating families all across this country," he said.

Trump on Tuesday, meanwhile, ruled out meeting with top congressional Democrats until after the shutdown ends.

"I would love to meet. I would like to meet with both of them, but I set one little caveat. I will only meet if they let the country open. They have to let the country open," Trump told reporters at the White House, where he earlier hosted Republican senators.

The shutdown began Oct. 1 after a breakdown in negotiations on federal spending priorities. Thousands of federal workers have since been furloughed, or working without pay, while government services have been curtailed or suspended.