Washington — The federal government has entered its sixth week of shutdown, as the stalemate between Congress and the White House shows no sign of resolution. Since funding lapsed on October 1, hundreds of thousands of federal employees remain unpaid, vital services are strained, and social‑safety‑net programs face growing uncertainty.
In a new interview with 60 Minutes that aired Sunday on CBS News, President Donald Trump directly blamed the shutdown on congressional Democrats, telling interviewer Norah O’Donnell that “the Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it… They’ve lost their way. They’ve become crazed lunatics.”
Trump said he will not reopen the government while being “extorted” by Democrats demanding to extend subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a key flashpoint in the funding battle. “If they don’t vote, it’s their problem,” he said. He asserted that only a handful of Democratic votes would suffice to reopen the government, stating, “All they have to do is raise five hands.”
Meanwhile, the fallout continues to mount. Agencies remain shuttered or partially functioning; around 42 million Americans reliant on SNAP food‑assistance benefits face interruption; and air‑traffic controllers and other essential workers still await pay.
On legislative strategy, Trump pressed Republicans in the Senate to scrap the 60‑vote filibuster threshold so Republicans could act without Democratic support. He acknowledged that Senate Republican leadership was opposed, saying, “The Republicans have to get tougher. If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want.”
Despite the firm rhetoric, there remains no concrete bipartisan agreement in sight. Democrats continue to insist that reopening the government must accompany extension of ACA subsidies; Republicans — backed by the president — say the government must reopen first. As this impasse continues, the economic and human costs of the shutdown keep growing. Analysts warn that unless a break is found, the shutdown could rival the record in U.S. history.
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