The government shutdown has entered its third week, with no clear end in sight. On Wednesday, the Senate plans to once again consider the funding bill previously approved by the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, pressure on lawmakers continues to mount.
Flight delays at major airports began to frustrate members of Congress after a tense weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration reported on Monday that there had been a “spike in staffing shortages” across the system on Sunday, causing disruptions at airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Newark.
Some Republican senators voiced concern over the Trump administration’s plans to halt funding for transportation projects in “blue states” such as New York and Massachusetts during the shutdown, warning that freezing funds as an apparent act of political retribution would be unacceptable.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, as usual, will address reporters and hold a conference call with Republican members on Tuesday morning. The House has not been in session in Washington for more than a month. On Monday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the lower chamber needs to get back to work.
On Tuesday, October 21, Donald Trump plans to make full use of his newly refurbished Rose Garden for the first time. He will host Republican senators there for lunch, visit the namesake club in the evening, and celebrate the Indian festival of Diwali at the White House.