Washington: As of Wednesday, the U.S. federal government shutdown has officially entered its third week. The White House managed, through a temporary reallocation of funds, to deliver paychecks to U.S. troops, while over 1 million federal employees remained furloughed or working without pay.
According to Namibia Press Agency, staff shortages among air traffic controllers have worsened flight delays, and the postponement of economic data releases has increased uncertainty. As the shutdown continues, its negative impacts are expected to deepen further. Meanwhile, there are still no signs of progress in breaking the congressional deadlock over funding bills. On Wednesday, the Senate again failed to pass a short-term funding bill, marking the ninth unsuccessful attempt. Republicans and Democrats continue to trade blame, with no plans for negotiation in sight. Many now anticipate a prolonged standoff that could even set a new record for the longest government shutdown.
On Wednesday, the White House paid U.S. troops by reallocating Pentagon research and development funds, marking the latest extraordinary measure amid the government shutdown deadlock. At a press conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said the move was merely a “temporary fix,” warning that if the two parties fail to reach an agreement soon, the U.S. military could once again face a paycheck crisis by the end of the month.
Over the past two weeks, the impact of the government shutdown has gradually become apparent. About 750,000 federal employees in “non-essential” positions have been furloughed without pay, while hundreds of thousands in “essential” roles remain on the job — also without pay. The inability to receive timely paychecks has placed significant financial pressure on many federal workers. On Wednesday, the nonprofit Capital Area Food Bank announced that starting next week, it will provide special free food distributions to federal employees and contractors.
Beyond delayed paychecks, some federal employees risk losing back pay or even their jobs. President Donald Trump has indicated that federal employees furloughed due to the shutdown might not receive back pay. Additionally, over 4,000 federal employees have received layoff notices. The shutdown’s impact is also spreading to the public, affecting essential federal employees such as air traffic controllers and transportation security officers. Staffing shortages have led to higher absenteeism rates, contributing to flight delays, cancellations, and longer security screening times.
Another significant impact is the delay of important economic data releases. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) data was delayed due to the shutdown, causing concerns among policymakers and investors who rely on this information for decision-making. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that the shutdown could start costing the U.S. economy up to 15 billion dollars a week.
In the latest round of negotiations over the funding bill, healthcare spending has emerged as a core point of contention. The Democratic Party demands to extend enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and reverse cuts to federal Medicaid funding. The Republican Party, however, advocates passing a short-term funding bill at existing levels to keep the government running, allowing more time for negotiations. Both parties have introduced their own versions of the bill, but neither has secured enough Senate votes to pass it.
As the shutdown continues, both parties blame each other. The Trump administration has circulated a video at airports blaming Democrats for the shutdown, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has accused Republicans of being intent on taking healthcare away. Observers expect the shutdown could turn into a protracted standoff, with Yahoo Finance reporting an increasing likelihood of the shutdown extending into November. House Speaker Johnson recently warned that the U.S. is heading toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history.