US Shutdown Becomes Longest in History as Trump Calls Democrats ‘Kamikaze’ Over Funding Stalemate

The United States government shutdown has officially become the longest in the nation’s history, surpassing the 35-day record from former President Donald Trump’s first term, as federal agencies continue to grind to a halt with no funding deal in sight.

President Donald Trump accused Democrats of deliberately sabotaging the country, calling them “kamikaze” politicians willing to cause national harm for political gain.

“I just got back from Japan,” Trump told Republican senators during a breakfast meeting at the White House on Wednesday. “I talked about the kamikaze pilots. I think these guys are kamikaze. They’ll take down the country if they have to.”

The shutdown began when Congress failed to pass a budget before September 30, halting funding for most federal operations. As the crisis stretches into its sixth week, the effects are being felt nationwide — from suspended welfare programs to unpaid government workers.

More than 1.4 million federal employees, including air traffic controllers and park rangers, have been furloughed or are working without pay. Some federal courts are operating on emergency reserves, warning that proceedings could soon slow down if the deadlock continues.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of a looming aviation crisis if the standoff persists.

“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos… mass flight delays, mass cancellations, and we may have to close certain parts of the airspace,” Duffy said at a Philadelphia press briefing.

The White House has cautioned that absenteeism among unpaid airport workers could soon cause nationwide disruptions. Over 60,000 air traffic controllers and TSA officers continue to work without pay, raising fears of another travel meltdown similar to the one that ended the 2019 shutdown.

The key impasse centers on health care funding. Democrats insist they will only vote to reopen the government once Republicans agree to extend expiring insurance subsidies that make health care affordable for millions. Republicans, however, say negotiations on health care can only resume after government funding is restored.

While party leaders remain entrenched, a few moderate lawmakers from both sides are exploring potential compromises. A bipartisan group of House centrists recently introduced a proposal to reduce health insurance costs, though it has yet to gain traction.

Trump has maintained a hardline stance, telling CBS News that he will “not be extorted.” He has also renewed threats to cut off a key nutrition program that helps 42 million low-income Americans buy food, although courts have blocked the move.

In a later statement, the White House clarified that it is complying with court rulings and “working to get partial SNAP payments out the door as much as we can and as quickly as we can.”

Opinion Nigeria News