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The U.S. federal government shutdown stretched into its second week Friday after the Senate rejected a Republican-backed funding proposal for the fourth time, leaving 750,000 federal employees facing furloughs and essential services suspended.
The deadlock has persisted since Wednesday, when federal agencies ran out of money amid congressional disagreement over government funding. Tourist attractions including the Washington Monument have closed, employment data releases have been delayed, and numerous government websites have ceased operations.
At the heart of the dispute lies a Democratic demand to extend health care subsidies set to expire, which would otherwise result in substantially higher costs for millions of low-income Americans. Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress and the White House, have not announced plans to address the subsidy extension.
Democrats are leveraging their position by blocking the Trump-backed funding resolution, which requires some Democratic votes to pass despite Republican majorities. The strategy has drawn sharp criticism from the White House.
"This madness must end," Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "President Trump and Republicans are calling on Democrats to reopen the government immediately on behalf of the American public."
The White House characterized the Democratic stance as "an intentional sabotage of our country."
Senate leaders opted not to keep the chamber in session over the weekend, making Friday's failed vote the final opportunity this week to resolve the crisis. Republican Senate leader John Thune expressed cautious optimism that the extended break might encourage some moderate Democrats to reconsider their position.
"Hopefully over the weekend, they'll have a chance to think about it," Thune told reporters at the Capitol. "Maybe some of these conversations start to result in something to where we can start moving some votes and actually get this thing passed."
However, widespread pessimism prevails regarding the likelihood of a swift agreement, with both parties entrenched in their respective positions.
The standoff has been complicated by Trump's threat to convert planned temporary furloughs into permanent layoffs while reducing funding and benefits to pressure Democrats. Budget Director Russ Vought is scheduled to brief Republican senators next week on potential layoff plans.
The administration has faced criticism for allegedly politicizing shutdown communications. The Department of Housing and Urban Development posted a website notice Tuesday blaming the shutdown on the "Radical Left," while The New York Times reported that some furloughed Education Department employees discovered their automated email messages had been altered to blame Democratic senators.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose chamber remains in recess, accused Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of prolonging the shutdown due to political pressures within his own party.
"Chuck Schumer is a far-left, progressive politician but he's not far enough left for this base and so he's got to show a fight against the president," Johnson said after meeting with Trump to discuss layoff strategies.
The government shutdown represents the latest test of divided government dynamics, with neither side showing signs of immediate compromise as federal operations remain largely paralyzed.
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