The federal government shutdown is on the verge of setting a new political record as neither Democrats nor Republicans show any signs of compromising in the ongoing stalemate.
Congress tied for its longest-ever shutdown in U.S. history on Tuesday, stretching into the 35th day. It matches a record set under President Donald Trump’s first term in office, as federal workers from airports to the military have been left unpaid, and federal food assistance has been brought to a halt.
The Senate is expected to vote once again on Tuesday on the GOP’s continuing resolution — which already passed the House in September — after it failed to advance for the 13th time last week. While congressional Republicans have pushed to temporarily fund the government until Nov. 21, Democrats have mainly remained united on a separate measure centered on extending Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of the year.
The latest step comes as Trump has repeatedly called on his party to eliminate the filibuster — a procedure that allows senators to delay or block votes on legislation by extending debate. To end the filibuster, the Senate would need to modify its rules with 60 votes, or a simple majority, meaning a handful of Democrats would need to join the GOP’s 53-seat majority.
“The Democrats are far more likely to win the Midterms, and the next Presidential Election, if we don’t do the Termination of the Filibuster (The Nuclear Option!), because it will be impossible for Republicans to get Common Sense Policies done with these Crazed Democrat Lunatics being able to block everything by withholding their votes,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform Tuesday. “FOR THREE YEARS, NOTHING WILL BE PASSED, AND REPUBLICANS WILL BE BLAMED.”
Trump and the GOP, which controls both chambers in Congress, have already continued to shoulder the blame for the shutdown in several recent polls.
According to an NBC News poll released Sunday, 52% of voters point to Trump and congressional Republicans for the funding impasse, while 42% blame congressional Democrats. Four percent of respondents found both parties responsible.
A poll from CBS News, also out on Sunday, found Republicans and Democrats in Congress neck and neck, both with a 55% disapproval. Trump also has negative marks, at 56% giving him a thumbs down.
A CNN poll, published Monday, revealed that 61% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the shutdown, as around 8 in 10 view the situation as a crisis.
Last month, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed that Trump’s approval rating had increased slightly, despite Americans blaming Republicans more for the shutdown. The poll noted that 50% of Americans believe that Republican congressional leaders are the main culprits for the shutdown, with 43% seeing Democratic leadership as deserving of blame.
Another Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll from last month indicated that 45% of Americans say Trump and the GOP are responsible, compared to 33% for Democrats and 22% who are unsure.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Monday he is “optimistic” that the shutdown will come to an end this week, and is now considering a stopgap spending bill into January or later to provide more time to finalize appropriations for fiscal year 2026.
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