The U.S. government has been "shut down for 32 days," just three days away from the longest record in history: millions of livelihoods are affected.

The U.S. government shutdown has lasted for 32 days, leaving only three days to tie the historical record. Employees are facing unpaid leave and interrupted benefits, which are impacting the economy and people's livelihoods. (Background: U.S. government shutdown continues) The Senate voted down the funding bill for the 12th time, worsening the healthcare reform and military pay crisis. (Background: U.S. government shutdown “crypto regulation at a standstill”: Litecoin ETF stalled, 90 applications canceled) The federal government has been shut down since October 1, and the shutdown has now entered its 32nd day, becoming the second longest in history (only 3 days away from tying the longest shutdown record of 35 days). The lack of federal funding has left about 650,000 employees facing unpaid leave or delayed paychecks, and it has also severely impacted 42 million vulnerable individuals who rely on food stamps. Current situation and impact on livelihoods According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, if the shutdown continues, U.S. GDP growth in the fourth quarter could decline by 1 to 2 percentage points, with lost working hours due to unpaid leave resulting in some permanent output losses. Affected employees can apply for unemployment benefits in some states, but once salaries are subsequently paid, they must return the benefits received, leaving the financial pressure unresolved. Social assistance programs are equally affected. Under the SNAP program, at least 25 states have announced a suspension of food stamp distribution starting in November, increasing the risk of food insecurity; energy assistance for low-income families (LIHEAP) has been delayed, making the situation particularly difficult as winter approaches. The Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) has temporarily maintained operations due to tariff revenue allocation, but the overall safety net has become fragile. Political stalemate and possible solutions The deadlock stems from Congress's failure to pass 12 annual funding bills before October 1. Parties are at an impasse over social spending, defense, and immigration issues, compounded by the requirement for 60 votes in the Senate to advance bills, giving any minority party leverage to block the budget. In the short term, Congress may still temporarily restore funding through continuing resolutions (CRs); this method has been used 47 times since 2010. However, it has long been criticized as merely “kicking the can down the road.” Longer-term reform proposals include establishing automatic continuing appropriations, adjusting speaking thresholds, or codifying the “back pay” system into permanent law. However, these proposals require bipartisan cooperation to pass, and the political outlook remains uncertain. Moderate Democrats are preparing to compromise. However, according to a report by POLITICO at the end of October, Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealed that bipartisan deadlock may soon see a breakthrough, with hopes rising for the government to reopen. Thune indicated that he believes there are positive signs in bipartisan negotiations. Strong external pressure is accelerating the negotiation process. Thune added that he and his Senate allies, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other House Republican leaders, increasingly believe that enough moderate Democrats are prepared to compromise, possibly as soon as early November. Additionally, according to five informed sources, Republican leaders are quietly ramping up internal discussions and actively planning the next steps. Current focus is on a new stopgap funding bill, with dozens of proposals already put forward, including extending government funding until around January 21 or even later until March. White House officials hope the stopgap funding can be extended as long as possible, even all the way to December 2026. Meanwhile, Republicans have privately made commitments to Democrats: once the government reopens, a bipartisan spending bill will be initiated immediately. The first will push a package bill including agricultural funding, followed by a second phase bill covering defense and labor, health, and public services. Regarding the core issue of the shutdown most concerning to Democrats: healthcare, Thune also stated that Trump is willing to meet with Democratic leaders as soon as next week to discuss subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) set to expire at the end of 2025, but the premise is that the government must first reopen. Related reports How powerful is the presidential pardon? What are the limitations? Binance CZ: Thank you very much for Trump's pardon! Will work to make the U.S. the best country for crypto. The U.S. government plans to “directly invest” in quantum computing companies; is Trump-style capitalism coming? <U.S. government “has been closed for 32 days” and is only three days away from the longest historical record: millions of livelihoods impacted> This article was first published in BlockTempo, the most influential blockchain news media.