22-Day Government shutdown becomes second-longest in US History

22-Day Government Shutdown Becomes Second-Longest in U.S. History

In a historic and deeply consequential development, the United States federal government shutdown has entered its 22nd day, officially becoming the second-longest in the nation’s history.

This surpasses the 21-day shutdown of 1995–1996, which occurred under President Bill Clinton’s administration following a budget veto that clashed with the GOP-controlled Congress.

The current impasse, which began on October 1, 2025, has been marked by intense partisan gridlock. Senate Democrats have consistently blocked Republican-led efforts to pass a House-approved measure that would fund federal agencies through November 21.

With only three Democratic senators breaking ranks, the majority have stood firm in their opposition, demanding broader negotiations with President Donald Trump.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has publicly called on President Trump to engage in direct talks aimed at resolving what he termed the “Trump shutdown.” Schumer emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We urged him to meet with us, and we said we’ll set up an appointment with him any time, any place before he leaves.”

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has drawn a hard line, declaring that no high-level meetings will take place until Democrats agree to reopen the government. Johnson relayed via social media that President Trump is “ready and willing” to meet with Democratic leaders, but only after Senate Majority Leader Schumer reopens the government.

Echoing this stance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed the need for negotiations, asserting, “I don’t know what there is to negotiate. Open up the government first.” Thune remains committed to repeatedly calling votes on a seven-week stopgap funding bill, expressing confidence that Democrats will eventually relent.

President Trump, speaking at a White House event for congressional Republicans, accused Democrats of extortion and urged them to “vote for the clean bipartisan and reopen our government, it’s got to be reopened right now.”

At the heart of the Democratic resistance is a demand to extend enhanced pandemic-era health insurance subsidies for approximately 22 million Americans who rely on Affordable Care Act exchanges. The White House has countered that these benefits remain active until December 31, suggesting that negotiations can resume once the government is operational.

The shutdown’s impact is already severe. Approximately 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed, and the Trump administration has initiated steps to permanently lay off thousands. If the shutdown continues, federal employees will miss their first full paychecks by Friday, and members of the armed forces face the risk of not being paid on October 31.

This 22-day shutdown now stands as the second-longest in U.S. history, trailing only the 35-day closure of 2018–2019, which also occurred during President Trump’s first term.

As the Senate prepares to reconvene, the nation watches closely, hoping for a resolution to a crisis that has paralyzed government operations and placed millions of livelihoods in jeopardy.