The US government shutdown has entered its 36th day, breaking the record as the longest ever and disrupting the lives of millions of Americans.
Federal programs have been cut and flights delayed, while federal workers nationwide have been left without pay cheques.
President Donald Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats over their demands to salvage expiring health insurance subsidies until they agree to reopen the government.
The US Capitol.Credit: Getty Images
Sceptical Democrats question whether the Republican president would keep his word, particularly after the administration restricted SNAP food aid, despite court orders to ensure funds were available to prevent hunger.
Trump, whose first term at the White House set the previous government shutdown record, is to meet Republican senators overnight Australian time.
The senators have so far opposed Trump’s calls to end the shutdown by abandoning the legislative filibuster, the 60-vote minimum needed to pass most major legislation though the Senate.
No talks have been scheduled with the Democrats.
US President Donald Trump.Credit: AP
In the past few hours, Trump has sought to blame the shutdown for the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s mayor.
“TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT, according to Pollsters,” he wrote on his TruthSocial account.
Trump was largely absent from the campaign trail – save for urging New Yorkers to vote for Mamdani’s rival Andrew Cuomo – but Republican candidates closely aligned themselves with the president, betting that his big win last year could provide a path to victory this time.
They were wrong.
With AP