US Government Shutdown Becomes Longest in History as Millions Face Disruptions

The United States government shutdown officially became the longest in history on Wednesday, surpassing the 35-day record set during Donald Trump’s first term, as the administration warned of looming air travel chaos and possible disruptions to Americans’ benefits amid the ongoing funding impasse.

Federal agencies have been partially closed since September 30, after Congress failed to pass a new spending bill. The shutdown has left 1.4 million federal workers — including air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and park wardens — either working without pay or placed on forced leave.

The prolonged stalemate has put several welfare programs in jeopardy, particularly food assistance benefits that help millions of low-income Americans afford groceries.

With the crisis deepening, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the shutdown could soon cripple the nation’s airports if it extends beyond a sixth week.

“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos… mass flight delays, mass cancellations, and maybe even airspace closures because we simply don’t have enough air traffic controllers,” Duffy told reporters in Philadelphia.

The warning comes as Thanksgiving travel is projected to hit record levels, with the American Automobile Association (AAA) estimating 5.8 million domestic flights over the holiday weekend.

More than 60,000 TSA officers and air traffic controllers are currently working without pay, heightening fears of staff shortages and long security delays.

The situation recalls the 2019 shutdown, which ended after widespread airport delays caused by workers calling in sick rather than working unpaid shifts.

Despite the mounting pressure, Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over health care spending, the core issue behind the funding lapse.

Democrats have vowed not to approve new funding until a deal is reached to extend key insurance subsidies that help millions afford coverage, while Republicans insist negotiations on health care can only resume once government operations are restored.

Amid the stalemate, a small group of moderate lawmakers from both parties have begun drafting a bipartisan framework to reduce insurance costs and break the impasse.

President Trump, however, remains defiant, saying in a recent CBS interview that he would “not be extorted.”

In an effort to pressure Democrats, Trump’s administration also threatened to suspend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — a food aid scheme serving 42 million Americans — for the first time in its 60-year history.

Although federal courts have blocked the move, the White House later stated it was “fully complying with legal obligations” and working to issue partial SNAP payments “as much as we can and as quickly as we can.”

As the shutdown drags into record territory, millions of Americans face uncertainty — from unpaid federal workers to families depending on food aid — with no clear end in sight.

Opinion Nigeria News