DEVELOPING: Government Shutdown Enters Critical Phase, Past Durations Offer Little Hope for Quick Resolution

Government Shutdown Enters Critical Phase The federal government has entered its second day of shutdown, with no clear resolution in sight. The shutdown began at midnight on Wednesday after a standoff between Senate Republicans and Democrats over healthcare spending. Critical Details: Hundreds of thousands of federal employees are working without pay. National parks and the Smithsonian Institution are closed or operating on reduced schedules. Social Security benefits and passport services continue uninterrupted, but with some delays. Background Context: The shutdown is the first since December 2018. A previous five-week shutdown in January 2019 offers little hope for a quick resolution, as it took weeks to reach an agreement. Current Status: Negotiations between lawmakers are ongoing, but no breakthroughs have been announced. The Senate is expected to reconvene on Thursday to continue discussions. Developing Story: This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. *This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Npr.*