Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump on Tuesday met with several Republican senators to discuss the ongoing government shutdown, calling Democrats “obstructionists” while reiterating his demand to cut Democrat-backed programs. Multiple GOP leaders left the White House meeting suggesting that Trump appeared open to negotiations—if Democrats were willing to present a substantive offer.
Despite this, the shutdown, now entering its fourth week, shows no signs of ending as partisan standoffs continue over health care subsidies. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized that Democrats would not change tactics, highlighting the looming funding crisis for programs such as WIC and SNAP. “The country is in a health care crisis unlike we’ve ever seen. Donald Trump, instead of leaving the country, or before he leaves the country, should sit down and negotiate with us,” Schumer said.
Meanwhile, Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley spoke for more than three hours on the Senate floor to protest what he called Trump’s “grave threats to democracy.” Merkley cited past halting of university research grants, indictments of political opponents, and the deployment of National Guard troops to Portland as examples of the administration’s overreach.
Airport Delays Spread Across the U.S.
The government shutdown is also creating tangible disruptions across U.S. airports. A shortage of air traffic controllers has led to delays in Houston, Chicago, and Newark. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, flights at Chicago O’Hare faced an average delay of 38 minutes Tuesday evening, while Houston Intercontinental flights were delayed nearly 80 minutes on the ground. Newark flights experienced an average wait of 32 minutes.
Since the start of the shutdown, 192 staffing shortages have been reported at FAA facilities—more than four times the number recorded on the same days last year. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that some workers were taking unscheduled time off to protest unpaid work during the shutdown. FlightAware reported over 3,000 delayed flights nationwide on Tuesday for various reasons.
Trump Discusses Compensation, National Guard Deployment, and International Affairs
President Trump also addressed other topics in separate remarks. He indicated he “could be” seeking $230 million from the Justice Department related to past investigations but said he would likely donate any funds to charity or use them for White House renovations. Trump stated that he feels empowered to deploy the National Guard in cities at his discretion, citing a recent appellate court ruling that endorsed troop deployment to Portland. The administration has requested Supreme Court review to apply similar action in Chicago.
On the international front, Trump described a “great conversation” with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though the discussion of Russian oil imports remains unclear. Trump also suggested that a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin might no longer be a top priority but confirmed plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday regarding ongoing efforts to end the Ukraine conflict.
Political Nominations and Federal Services
In other news, Trump’s nominee for the Office of Special Counsel, Paul Ingrassia, announced he would withdraw from his confirmation hearing, citing insufficient Republican support amid controversy over allegedly racist text messages. A White House official confirmed Ingrassia’s nomination remains under review.
Meanwhile, the Education Department is exploring shifting control of special education programs to other federal agencies, following staff cuts to the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. The move could affect services for 7.4 million students nationwide, though the department emphasized that no agreements have been finalized.
The ongoing shutdown continues to strain both federal employees and local communities. The Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., distributed goods to over 370 households Tuesday, assisting federal workers and contractors still affected by the closure.
As the standoff stretches into a record-setting fourth week, lawmakers and citizens alike await resolution while critical services and daily operations across the nation remain disrupted.