The United States government shutdown reached its 35th day on Tuesday, matching the record set during Donald Trump’s first presidency, as the administration warned of possible turmoil at airports ahead of one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
With no major progress in Congress, the federal closure is expected to become the longest in history, entering its sixth week at midnight. While some lawmakers signalled cautious optimism about a potential compromise, deep divisions remain over health care funding.
The shutdown began after Congress failed to approve new spending past September 30, halting operations across multiple federal agencies. Welfare programmes, including key food assistance for millions of low-income Americans, are now in limbo.
Around 1.4 million federal workers — from park rangers to air traffic controllers — have either been furloughed or ordered to work without pay.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the crisis could escalate into “mass chaos” at airports nationwide if the standoff continues.
“You will see mass flight delays, cancellations, and even the closure of sections of airspace,” Duffy said during a press briefing in Philadelphia.
Thanksgiving travel is expected to reach record levels, with the AAA projecting 5.8 million domestic air passengers over the November 27 holiday. More than 60,000 air traffic controllers and TSA officers are currently working without pay, and growing absenteeism could severely disrupt operations.
A similar wave of staff shortages during Trump’s 2019 shutdown contributed to its eventual end after 35 days — the same length as the current impasse.
The latest shutdown has become a political standoff between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare subsidies. Democrats are demanding an extension of expiring insurance subsidies before approving any new funding, while Republicans insist that negotiations can only resume once the government reopens.
Despite the deadlock among party leaders, a small group of moderate lawmakers from both sides has been working behind the scenes to forge a bipartisan compromise to lower insurance costs.
Trump, however, remains firm in his refusal to yield. Speaking to CBS News, he said he would “not be extorted,” insisting that Democrats were using the shutdown as political leverage.
The administration has also faced backlash after threatening to suspend food aid for 42 million Americans, a move blocked by federal courts. Although Trump claimed that aid would resume only after the shutdown ends, the White House later clarified that it is working to release partial payments “as quickly as possible” in compliance with legal requirements.
As the shutdown drags on, millions of Americans face mounting uncertainty — with unpaid workers, delayed benefits, and disrupted travel threatening to deepen the national crisis.
