The United States government shutdown has entered its fourth week as Senate leaders failed to pass critical spending proposals, deepening the political impasse. Both Republican and Democratic proposals fell short of the required 60-vote threshold, leaving federal operations in limbo. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson have squarely blamed Democrats for the crisis, while Democrats accuse Republicans of obstructing progress on healthcare reforms. The White House has warned of mass layoffs to sustain essential services, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing the situation as a matter of ‘fiscal sanity.’ The potential scale of these layoffs remains unclear, but discussions with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are ongoing. The core disagreement centers on healthcare, with Democrats aiming to protect low-income health insurance subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts, while Republicans accuse Democrats of prioritizing healthcare for undocumented immigrants. Votes on both proposals revealed stark partisan divides, with 54 Senators supporting the Republican plan and 45 backing the Democratic alternative. Meanwhile, the White House has suspended billions in federal infrastructure funding for Democratic-led states, including Chicago and New York City. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the urgency of resolving the healthcare issue, warning of devastating consequences if no action is taken. Early polls indicate a divided public, with 47% blaming Republicans and 30% blaming Democrats for the shutdown. As negotiations remain stalled, the economic toll continues to mount, with estimates suggesting a $15 billion weekly loss in GDP.