The shutdown stretched to 44 days on Sunday, surpassing the previous record for the longest funding lapse…reports Asian Lite News
The partial shutdown of the United States government has become the longest in the country’s history, as lawmakers in Washington remain locked in a standoff over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
The shutdown stretched to 44 days on Sunday, surpassing the previous record for the longest funding lapse, BBCreported. The ongoing deadlock has disrupted key services, with airports across the country facing delays and operational strain due to a shortage of Transportation Security Administration officers, many of whom have been working without pay.
Efforts are underway to ease the situation. White House border czar Tom Homan said TSA personnel could begin receiving pay early next week after Donald Trump signed an order aimed at unlocking funds. However, uncertainty remains over the legality of the move, as the US Constitution grants Congress authority over federal spending.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was willing to ensure TSA agents are paid for as long as necessary, while urging Congress to pass a funding bill to resolve the crisis.
Homan also told CBS, the BBC’s US news partner, that even after the shutdown ends, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement deployed to assist at airports would remain in place until operations return fully to normal.
“We’re going to continue a presence there,” he said, adding that the duration would depend on how quickly TSA staff return to work once payments resume.
Despite these measures, there is little sign of a breakthrough in the political deadlock. Republicans and Democrats remain divided over DHS funding, which covers not only airport security but also immigration enforcement and disaster response operations.
Congress has entered a two week recess without reaching an agreement, leaving the Department of Homeland Security partially shut since February 14 and prolonging uncertainty for federal workers and travellers alike.
