U.S. Edges Toward Longest Government Shutdown Amid Standoff Over Healthcare:

Washington, D.C. – As the partial U.S. government shutdown stretches into its 13th day, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has warned that the standoff could soon become the longest in American history. The ongoing deadlock between Republicans and Democrats shows no signs of resolution, with healthcare policy at the center of the dispute. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Johnson, a Republican, said he would not enter negotiations with Democrats unless they agree to drop demands related to healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “We’re barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history,” Johnson stated. The Trump administration has seized on the shutdown as an opportunity to push through a controversial wave of budget cuts and layoffs, despite ongoing legal challenges questioning its authority to do so. President Donald Trump has openly admitted that the cuts would disproportionately affect programs favored by Democrats. “We’ll reduce Democrat programs if they won’t drop the healthcare demands,” he said last week. The impact of the shutdown is already being felt across the country. On Sunday, the Smithsonian Institution—a federal trust that manages 21 museums, the National Zoo, and various research centers—announced that it would temporarily close all its facilities. The institution relies on the federal government for 62% of its funding. Other federal agencies and services have also begun scaling back operations, while hundreds of thousands of government workers are either furloughed or working without pay. The U.S. military confirmed over the weekend that it would divert unspent research and development funds to ensure military personnel continue to receive their salaries. At the heart of the shutdown is a fundamental disagreement over the future of healthcare subsidies. Democrats are demanding an extension of ACA subsidies that help millions of Americans afford health insurance. Republicans, however, insist the issue can be addressed after the government is reopened. Democrats have expressed skepticism about that promise, pointing to earlier Republican-backed legislation that could result in over 15 million people losing healthcare access. Earlier this year, the GOP passed a major tax and spending bill that critics say disproportionately benefits corporations and the wealthy, while cutting social safety net programs. Democrats argue that the current healthcare battle is part of a broader attempt by the Trump administration to roll back protections for vulnerable Americans. Vice President JD Vance added fuel to the fire over the weekend by warning that more “painful” cuts to federal agencies are ahead. This has prompted strong backlash from government employee unions, which are now launching legal challenges to the layoffs. Despite the severity of the situation, public opinion remains divided. Recent polls indicate that American voters are assigning blame in nearly equal measure to both parties and President Trump himself. While shutdowns have become increasingly common in U.S. politics, experts warn that this one could be uniquely damaging, both in scope and in the number of federal institutions affected. With no deal in sight and both sides refusing to budge, the country is bracing for what could soon become the most prolonged shutdown in its history.

NEWS