Three weeks in, Washington deadlocked as federal shutdown drags on

The federal government shutdown has stretched into its third week, with no spending deal to reopen agencies. President Donald Trump met with Republican senators at the White House, urging Democrats to “stop the madness.” Democrats say the dispute centers on Affordable Care Act tax credits and efforts to prevent higher insurance premiums. About 750,000 federal employees remain furloughed, and food banks in Washington, D.C., report rising demand. The shutdown is now tied for the second-longest in U.S. history, matching the 1995 standoff under President Bill Clinton.