WASHINGTON (TNND) — The government shutdown is now the longest in history, hitting day 36 on Wednesday.
Trump met with Senate Republicans on Wednesday at the White House to discuss the shutdown over a breakfast meeting.
The president called on Senate Republicans “to do what they have to do” and get rid of the filibuster.
“It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do, and that’s terminate the filibuster,” Trump said. “It’s the only way you can do it, and if you don’t terminate the filibuster, you’ll be in bad shape. We won’t pass any legislation.”
Thune has widely opposed terminating the filibuster, and Trump acknowledged that Senate Republicans do not want to do that, but said it was “the only way.”
“You’re very smart people, we’re good friends, but I think it’s a tremendous mistake, really. It’s possible you’re not going to do that, and I’m going to go by your wishes.
The Senate voted against reopening the government for the 14th time on Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Thune told reporters that he is “optimistic” that the shutdown will end this week.
“I think there are people who realize this has gone on long enough, there’s been enough pain inflicted on the American people, and it’s time to end it,” Thune said.
The funding bill is slated to expire on Nov. 21, but Thune has said that they need more time to work on an appropriations bill that will last a year. This would mean that the House would need to return to Washington to make that change.
Americans have been feeling the brunt of the shutdown, with more than a million federal workers working without pay.
Around 700,00 federal workers have been furloughed. Federal workers are entitled to back pay after the shutdown ends.
Airports across the country have been hit hard, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy saying there might be “mass chaos” in the skies if air traffic controllers miss a second round of paychecks next week amid the ongoing government shutdown.
On Sunday alone, Duffy said 46% of flights were delayed due to staffing issues in air traffic control towers.
Duffy and the head of the air traffic controllers union said it will only get worse the longer the shutdown goes on, and the financial pressure continues to grow on people who are forced to work without pay.
In a 7-page letter the U.S. Travel Association sent on Monday, the agency urged Congress to pass “a clean continuing resolution” to reopen the government.
According to the agency, America’s travel economy has already lost $4 billion, with the losses growing “significantly” each the shutdown goes on.
The Trump administration is using emergency funds for SNAP benefits this month, with beneficiaries only receiving partial payments from the federal government after two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must use SNAP’s contingency funds during the government shutdown.
On Tuesday, Trump posted to Truth Social, saying that SNAP benefits will only be given out once the government reopens.
“SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term in office (Due to the fact that they were haphazardly “handed” to anyone for the asking, as opposed to just those in need, which is the purpose of SNAP!), will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT.”
On Nov. 1, millions of Americans lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The contingency funds will cover around $6 billion, with SNAP costing around $8 billion per month.
It’s not clear when SNAP recipients will receive payment for November on their EBT cards, but the USDA has warned that some states might be delayed in getting money distributed to recipients.
The shutdown began on Oct. 1, as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on federal funding. The longest shutdown was 35 days in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term.
This is now the fourth time the government has shut down under Trump’s leadership.
Democrats have been pushing for healthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act. They are refusing to vote to reopen the government until the funding bill includes tax breaks for Americans using the ACA. Republicans have pushed back, saying they will negotiate once the government reopens.
