As of today, the U.S. government shutdown is about to enter its 32nd day since October 1, just three days short of surpassing the longest shutdown record of 35 days set in 2018-2019.
A countdown clock on the White House website continues to tick—31 days, 22 hours, and 21 minutes—with no immediate resolution in sight. According to reports, the Senate's next vote to advance a funding bill and end the shutdown is scheduled for November 3, which would mark the 34th day of the current impasse.
Vice President Vance has warned that if the deadlock persists into late November around Thanksgiving, the U.S. aviation system could face a "disaster."
**Trump Administration Misjudges Democratic Resolve** Analysts suggest the core issue lies in the Trump administration and its Republican allies underestimating Democrats' firm stance in budget negotiations. Early in the shutdown, White House officials internally predicted it would not last beyond 10 days, assuming unpaid federal workers, disrupted public services, and threats of further job cuts by Budget Director Russ Vought would pressure Democrats into concessions.
Yet, as the standoff enters its second month, Trump's patience appears exhausted. On Friday, he lashed out at reporters:
"Democrats have no idea what they're doing! I don’t know what’s wrong with them. They’ve never acted like this before. They’ve gone crazy. All they need to say is, ‘Let’s go, reopen our country.’ Everything would be fine immediately. So clearly, something’s wrong with them."
Trump then escalated pressure, urging Republicans to invoke the "nuclear option" to eliminate the Senate filibuster rule, allowing a simple majority to pass a funding bill and unilaterally reopen the government. However, the proposal was swiftly rejected by senior Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the filibuster.
Meanwhile, a recent poll shows more Americans blame Trump and congressional Republicans for the shutdown, despite the White House website claiming "Democrats shut down the government."
**Shutdown Strains U.S. Economy and Society** Trump’s hardline stance comes as the economy and society face mounting pressures.
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports roughly 42 million low-income Americans, was suspended on November 1. Simultaneously, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued ground delays in New York and Boston due to staffing shortages, exacerbating aviation system stress.
One of the most urgent crises is the SNAP funding lapse, affecting about one-eighth of the U.S. population. Although a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to sustain the program, Trump insisted on awaiting "proper legal guidance" from courts, warning of potential delays.
Aviation chaos is also worsening. Reports indicate rising absenteeism among unpaid air traffic controllers has caused flight delays at major hubs like New York and Dallas.
Additionally, millions of federal employees have missed their first full paychecks, and the Treasury Secretary warned military paychecks could be at risk by November 15.
Meanwhile, as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enters its new enrollment period, many consumers face steep premium hikes after pandemic-enhanced subsidies expired.
**"Critical Moment" Looms: Eyes on November 3** Amid the stalemate, bipartisan talks showed fleeting progress this week. Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto described recent discussions as "more productive than ever."
However, core disagreements remain. Democrats insist on negotiating an extension of ACA subsidies before reopening the government, while Republicans demand Democrats first vote to end the shutdown.
Trump reiterated on Friday he would not meet with Democratic leaders unless they reopen the government, and his filibuster remarks further complicated delicate negotiations.
With mounting fallout, political pressure on both sides is intensifying. The Senate’s planned November 3 vote—Day 34 of the shutdown—is now a focal point, with markets watching for a last-minute compromise.