The Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History?
The U.S. government has once again failed to pass a temporary funding bill, and the shutdown that began on October 1 is on track to surpass the previous 35-day record from 2018, becoming the longest shutdown in American history. The consequences are already hitting everyday life: 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 airport security workers are operating without pay, absentee rates have surged to 24–44%, and on October 30 alone more than 6,000 flights were delayed and over 1,000 were canceled, even forcing JFK Airport to ground flights. The core reason behind the shutdown is a deep budget standoff between the two political parties, each guarding its own political interests and refusing to compromise. The aviation industry faces losses in the tens of millions of dollars per day, stock markets may fluctuate by up to 3%, and ordinary people are experiencing longer travel times and growing uncertainty. To end the shutdown, both parties must reach a compromise, secure funding, and adjust fiscal rules—but obstacles such as partisan conflict, interest group pressure, and time constraints make the future unclear. The key questions now are: When will they compromise? How long will the shutdown last? And how severe will the economic impact become?