Washington, October 4(HS): The US federal government shutdown has entered its second week as Senate lawmakers remain sharply divided over the future of healthcare subsidies for low-income Americans.

On Friday, both Democratic and Republican proposals to restore government funding fell well short of the required threshold, leaving the standoff unresolved and threatening mass layoffs, interrupted services, and mounting economic damage across the country.

Republicans and Democrats traded accusations in the Senate chamber and beyond, each blaming the other for the impasse. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer argued that Americans overwhelmingly want expanded health coverage, while key Republicans insisted Democrats were seeking to extend benefits to undocumented immigrants—an allegation Democratic leaders flatly rejected.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has signaled plans to review and possibly slash funding for agencies deemed unfavorable by his administration, warning that without a deal, “fiscal sanity” will demand sweeping job cuts.With the shutdown’s consequences already surfacing, the government’s Office of Management and Budget has begun withholding billions of dollars in infrastructure funds for major Democratic-led cities, escalating what was already a high-stakes political confrontation.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the economic toll now includes an estimated $15 billion in lost weekly GDP and rising unemployment, though the White House has not provided a detailed timeline or scale for expected layoffs.

American families, workers, and state governments are bracing for deepening hardship as the deadlock persists. Early polling suggests the public remains deeply divided over who is responsible, with nearly half blaming Republicans for the stalemate, about a third holding Democrats accountable, and the remainder uncertain. With neither side showing signs of compromise, the nation now faces the prospect of an increasingly costly and painful political crisis with no clear resolution in sight.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar