The federal government shutdown has now stretched into its twentieth day, officially marking it as the longest full closure in American history — and the third-longest overall, surpassed only by the 35-day partial shutdown of 2018–19 and the 21-day standoff of 1995–96.
The Senate is preparing for another vote on the continuing resolution already passed by the House, scheduled for Monday evening. Lawmakers, however, are bracing for what would be the eleventh failed effort to end the standoff.
“Since the Democrats recklessly shut down the United States government, the Democrats are making some very costly history here: Don’t lose that in all that’s happening,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Monday at his daily briefing. “This is now the third longest shutdown in history. And when you look at it carefully, it is now already the longest full shutdown of all time. You had an example in 2018, and you had one back in 1995 that were longer, but they were partial shutdowns because they only affected a part of the federal government. This is everything.”
Republicans plan to advance a separate measure this week that would allow federal workers to receive pay during the shutdown. Democrats, however, are dismissing the effort as a political stunt meant to benefit President Donald Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought — and have indicated they will not support it, according to Punchbowl News.
Trump and Vought have pledged to hold firm until Senate Democrats agree to reopen the government under spending limits below those set by President Joe Biden. The two have argued that the shutdown is an opportunity to trim federal programs that favor Democratic priorities.
While most Democrats are united in opposing the House measure, a handful have begun to break ranks. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., criticized his colleagues for refusing to take responsibility for the Affordable Care Act subsidies that are set to expire later this year.
“It’s also important for us to note this is the first time in history that any party has had the audacity to shut down the government over a totally clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution,” Johnson said again at his briefing. “This is a political stunt, and it’s the first time it’s been done. It is the most costly, most selfish, most dangerous political stunt in the history of the United States Congress.”
As the shutdown enters its third week, the consequences are deepening. Federal workers will go without their first full paycheck this week, prompting some banks and credit unions to extend emergency loans to affected employees. Air traffic controllers have warned that staff shortages could soon disrupt flights nationwide.
Meanwhile, the USDA’s loan and grant programs for farmers and small businesses have ground to a halt, leaving many without critical funding.
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans are expected to meet with Trump in the newly renovated Rose Garden. The gathering, largely symbolic, underscores the party’s continued solidarity with the White House as the standoff drags on.
With essential programs faltering and the November 1 funding deadline looming, lawmakers face mounting pressure to end the crisis — or risk cementing this episode as one of the most damaging shutdowns in modern U.S. history.
According to USA Today, here’s how this shutdown compares to the longest in U.S. history (ranked by duration):
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2019 under Trump – 35 days
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1996 under President Bill Clinton – 21 days
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2025 under Trump – 20 days
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1978 under President Jimmy Carter – 17 days (tied)
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2013 under President Barack Obama – 17 days (tied)
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1977 under Carter – 12 days
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1976 under President Gerald Ford – 11 days (tied)
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1979 under Carter – 11 days (tied)
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1977 under Carter – 8 days (tied)
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1977 under Carter – 8 days (tied)
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1995 under President Bill Clinton – 5 days
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1990 under President George H.W. Bush – 4 days
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2018 under Trump – 3 days (tied)
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1982 under President Ronald Reagan – 3 days (tied)
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1983 under Reagan – 3 days (tied)
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1981 under Reagan – 2 days (tied)
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1984 under Reagan – 2 days (tied)
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1982 under Reagan – 1 day (tied)
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1984 under Reagan – 1 day (tied)
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1986 under Reagan – 1 day (tied)
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1987 under Reagan – 1 day (tied)
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2018 under Trump – several hours
“The Senate Democrats have zero shame about this,” Johnson said. “They don’t have any shame at all about the pain that they’re inflicting upon hardworking families, upon soldiers and law enforcement officers and veterans, the elderly and the disabled, women, infants, and children. Services to all those categories and paychecks to those folks are being stalled because Democrats are playing games today.”
{Matzav.com}
