U.S. government shutdown could become longest ever – AP

Associated Press (AP) reported this in an article, according to Ukrinform.

"The government shutdown is poised to become the longest ever this week as the impasse between Democrats and Republicans has dragged into a new month. Millions of people stand to lose food aid benefits, health care subsidies are set to expire and there are few real talks between the parties over how to end it," the outlet reports.

In a Sunday interview, Trump said he "won't be extorted," referring to Democrats who insist on continuing subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. He stated he would negotiate only after government funding is restored.

Trump said that Democrats "have lost their way" and expressed confidence that they would capitulate to Republicans. "And if they don't vote, it's their problem," not one for the American people.

Trump's comments signal the shutdown could drag on for some time as federal workers, including air traffic controllers, are set to miss additional paychecks and there is uncertainty over whether 42 million Americans who receive federal food aid will be able to access the assistance, the article adds.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the U.S. government shutdown has now lasted 34 days, after the Senate failed to pass a resolution for temporary government funding. Over the past month, the upper chamber has held 13 votes on the issue, but none produced a positive outcome.

The previous record for the longest U.S. government shutdown (35 days) was set in 2019, during Donald Trump's first presidential term, when he demanded that Congress allocate funds for the construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.