New York, Times Square Global Live — The U.S. federal government entered its second day of a partial shutdown, with Congress still unable to break the deadlock. Competing short-term funding bills proposed by Republicans and Democrats in the Senate both failed, highlighting the deep partisan divide in Washington.
The Republican bill sought to extend government funding until November 21 but was rejected by a 55–45 vote, with only two Democrats and one Independent crossing party lines in support. The Democratic alternative, which tied funding to $1.5 trillion in new healthcare spending, also failed 53–47, with all Republicans voting against it.
President Donald Trump announced the freezing of $26 billion in infrastructure funds designated for Democratic-led states. This includes an $18 billion transit project in New York City and $8 billion in “green energy” funding across 16 states such as California, Washington, and Hawaii. The White House claimed the move was to prevent projects from being carried out under “unconstitutional DEI policies.”
Vice President JD Vance added that the administration would proceed with mass layoffs during the shutdown to keep essential services running.
Experts warn the shutdown is already harming the U.S. economy. Stephanie Lesser, a lecturer at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, noted: “Uncertainty itself has costs — from delayed investment and higher borrowing expenses to drained reserves and mounting administrative burdens.”
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of treating Americans as “pawns” and using national pain as leverage. He argued that Democrats’ proposal to extend healthcare subsidies directly addressed public needs.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune countered that Democrats had “lost all reason in their hatred of Trump,” urging them to “wake up and reopen the government.”
The shutdown underscores the deepening polarization of American politics. With Democrats and Republicans entrenched on fiscal priorities and social policy, compromise remains elusive. As federal workers go unpaid, projects stall, and public trust erodes, it is ordinary citizens who bear the brunt.
Whether a breakthrough can be reached in the coming weeks will determine the course of this institutional standoff. Until then, the U.S. faces mounting economic and social costs from the shutdown.
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