US government shutdown becomes longest in history

The US government shutdown became the longest ever on 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 September 30, and the pain has been mounting as welfare programmes – including aid that helps millions of Americans afford groceries – hang in limbo.

There were in recent days the first fragile signs of progress in Congress in the search for an off-ramp, although – for now – 1.4 million federal workers, from air traffic controllers to park wardens, remain on enforced leave or working without pay.

Hours before the shutdown record toppled at midnight, the Trump administration sounded the alarm over turmoil at airports nationwide if the crisis drags beyond a sixth week, with worsening staff shortages snarling airports and closing down sections of airspace.

“So if you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos…you will see mass flight delays,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told a news conference in Philadelphia.