Washington, D.C. — The U.S. government shutdown has now entered its 18th day, marking it as the third-longest funding lapse in modern history, surpassed only by the shutdowns of 1995 and 2018-19. The Senate failed for the 10th time on Thursday to advance a funding bill, leaving federal operations in limbo with no end in sight.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune adjourned the chamber for the weekend after Thursday’s votes, meaning the funding lapse will continue until at least Monday. The House has been out of session since September 19 and has no plans to return until the shutdown is resolved.
The ongoing impasse has led to significant disruptions across federal agencies. The Supreme Court is expected to run out of funding on Saturday, potentially leading to changes in its operations. Additionally, the agency overseeing the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile plans to furlough 80% of its staff in the coming days due to a funding shortfall.
In response to the shutdown, Thune’s office announced plans to introduce a bill next week to pay federal employees and military service members who have continued to work without pay. However, passing the legislation would require support from Democrats, who have previously blocked a long-term defense spending bill from advancing.
The prolonged shutdown underscores the deep divisions within Congress and the challenges in reaching a consensus on federal funding priorities.
