Ongoing federal funding lapse now longest full government shutdown in history

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

The federal government has broken a record: its 20th day of closure marks the longest full government shutdown ever.

As of Monday, it is also the third-longest partial government shutdown in American history, with the longest lasting for 35 days. Neither major political party in Congress, however, seems in a hurry to reopen the government if it entails having to compromise on a funding bill.

Republicans are sticking to their House-passed Continuing Resolution, arguing that Democrats are behaving unreasonably for opposing legislation free of partisan policy riders.

The bill would reopen the government and place agency funds on cruise control while lawmakers finish regular appropriations and refresh federal funding levels.

Senate Democrats have blocked the CR from passing the Senate 10 times already, demanding that it also renew the pandemic-era expansion of the Obamacare Premium Tax Credit, set to expire Dec. 31.

Since millions of Americans’ health care premiums could skyrocket if the credits aren’t extended, Democrats say Congress should address the policy issue now. They refuse to back down unless Republican leaders promise not only a vote on extending the subsidies, but also a guarantee that the vote will succeed.

Every day the shutdown drags on, however, the consequences magnify. Federal tax, loan, and disaster aid services have either shuttered or been significantly curtailed. The U.S. economy has lost hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue, and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are either on unpaid leave or working without pay.

The National Nuclear Security Administration began furloughing nearly 80% of its workforce Monday, leaving fewer than 400 employees to safeguard America’s nuclear stockpile.

Governors are also warning citizens on food stamps that SNAP funding will run out soon unless the government reopens, threatening food security for potentially tens of millions of Americans.

The Senate is set to vote on the CR for the eleventh time Monday evening, a vote that will almost certainly fail.

In an X post Monday morning, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., urged Democrats to “put an end to their dangerous game.”

“Today, they’ll have an opportunity to reopen the government, pay our troops, and end the hardship on the American people,” Barrasso said. “It’s time to put people over politics.”