It’s now Day 36 of the U.S. government shutdown — the longest in American history.

Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans remain at an impasse with Democrats over spending and insurance subsidies.
The crisis is starting to impact critical services — including the possibility that the United States Department of Transportation could shut down parts of U.S. airspace next week if no deal is reached.

Why it matters:

A prolonged shutdown undermines trust in government and could have ripple effects on the economy, travel, and everyday services.

With air-traffic operations possibly at risk, it’s not just Washington politics — this could affect global travel and commerce.

The political stakes are high: public sentiment may turn harshly against whichever side is seen as refusing to cooperate or as risking civilian hardship.