Washington ¨C The U.S. government shutdown became the longest ever Wednesday, topping the 35-day record set during Donald Trump¡¯s first term, as his administration warned of holiday air-travel chaos and threatened Americans¡¯ benefits in a bid to force a resolution.
Federal agencies have been grinding to a halt since Congress failed to approve funding past Sept. 30, and the pain has been mounting as welfare programs ¡ª including aid that helps millions of Americans afford groceries ¡ª hang in limbo.
There were in recent days the first fragile signs of progress in Congress in the search for an off-ramp, although ¡ª for now ¡ª 1.4 million federal workers, from air-traffic controllers to park wardens, remain on enforced leave or working without pay.
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