Washington: The United States federal government has now entered its 21st day of a partial shutdown, making it one of the longest in U.S. history. The shutdown began on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass appropriations legislation for the 2026 fiscal year. On October 20, the Senate failed for the 11th time to advance a funding bill, with a 50–43 vote falling short of the 60 votes required to proceed. This deadlock has left approximately 900,000 federal employees furloughed and another 700,000 working without pay, creating widespread disruption across federal services.

The primary point of contention is the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, set to expire on November 1. Democrats insist that these credits be included in the funding bill, while Republicans and

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