Government shutdown live updates as funding lapse becomes second-longest in history

Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, is speaking on the Senate floor in protest of President Trump’s policies. He began speaking at 6:21 p.m. on Tuesday evening and has carried on speaking through the night. 

A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to approve funding for federal agencies. Before 1980, agencies largely continued operating during a lapse in funding with the assumption that Congress would act quickly. But in 1980 and 1981, then-Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti authored a series of legal opinions that found government agencies didn’t have the authority to continue running during a gap in funding.

President Ronald Reagan oversaw eight shutdowns during his time in office, the longest of which lasted three days. There were three funding gaps between 1990 and 1995, then none until 2013.

The longest shutdown occurred from late 2018 into early 2019, which stretched on for 35 days. The 1995 shutdown lasted 21 days, which the current shutdown has now eclipsed.

Read more about the history of shutdowns here.

The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on a House-passed measure to fund the government until Nov. 21. 

The vote marks the twelfth attempt to advance the measure in the upper chamber. It last fell short of the 60 votes needed on Monday, winning no new support from Democrats despite the suggestion from GOP leaders that they may find more support from across the aisle after the weekend’s “No Kings” protests. 

All but one Republican have consistently supported the measure, along with two Democrats and one independent who caucuses with Democrats, meaning support from five more Democrats is needed to clear the hurdle. The bill has failed to gain any new votes from across the aisle since the shutdown began.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said at a lunch meeting at the White House Tuesday that the Senate would vote again Wednesday on the House-passed measure, saying Republicans are unified on the effort to reopen the government with the bill.

“We’re hopeful that this will be the week when we break out of this, and the Democrats come to their senses and decide to open up the government,” he said.