Washington: US House Speaker Mike Johnson accused congressional Democrats on Tuesday of prolonging the government shutdown, asserting that they prioritize politics over the well-being of the American people. "Welcome to Day 14 of the Democrat government shutdown," Johnson stated to reporters at Capitol Hill. "It's two weeks, two weeks of Democrats in Congress inflicting untold pain on the American people for nothing other than pure politics, as we've explained at this podium every day of the shutdown," he added.

According to Anadolu Agency, the shutdown has resulted in the halting of non-essential government services, the furloughing of thousands of federal workers, and delays in key programs across various agencies. The Senate is expected to vote later Tuesday for the eighth time on a Republican-led stopgap funding bill designed to fund the government. This measure requires 60 votes to advance, meaning Senate Republicans will need additional support from Democrats to secure its passage.

With no resolution in sight, Johnson urged Senate Democrats to act. "Today, Senate Democrats will have their eighth chance to end this mess by passing our clean, non-partisan continuing resolution, the government funding bill that would end all of this immediately," he stated. The ongoing deadlock sees Republicans and Democrats continuing to blame each other for obstructing progress on reopening the government.

The White House budget director, Russell Vought, announced on Friday that layoffs of federal workers "have begun". As per standard procedure during past government shutdowns, essential workers remain on the job unpaid, while nonessential workers are furloughed, also unpaid, but typically receive back pay once the shutdown concludes. However, President Donald Trump has threatened to fire thousands of workers rather than furlough them and to withhold back pay from others.

Democrats and labor unions have labeled these moves illegal and have vowed to challenge them in court.