Congress is presiding over the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, and members have only recently started talking about digging their way out.
On Tuesday night, the 2025 government shutdown became the longest shutdown of any kind, surpassing the 35-day partial shutdown that began in 2018. Federal workers are missing paychecks and facing layoffs. Food benefits have been delayed. Government services are shuttered. And Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Tuesday that if the shutdown goes into next week, airspace closures and mass flight delays could ensue.
While there’s been talk of improved negotiations, next steps and off-ramps on Capitol Hill, there’s no immediate plan to reopen the government. Senate Republicans have refused to nuke the filibuster despite President Donald Trump’s demands. House Speaker Mike Johnson has no solid plans to bring members back to negotiate a different deal; he’s instead banking on the Senate’s moderate Democrats to cave.