Core Points - The current U.S. federal government shutdown has lasted over 6 weeks, breaking the previous record of 35 days [1] - The shutdown is a result of the inability of Congress to pass a new annual budget due to intense partisan conflicts, leading to attempts at temporary funding measures [1] - The House of Representatives, controlled by Republicans, passed a temporary funding bill, but it failed to pass in the Senate due to disagreements over healthcare provisions [3] - The Senate has held 14 votes on the temporary funding bill without success, leading to the government shutdown as of October 1 [5] - The shutdown has caused significant disruptions, including absenteeism among air traffic controllers and delays in food assistance programs affecting millions of Americans [7] - Only 3 out of the required 12 annual budget appropriations have been passed, indicating a potential for future shutdowns if negotiations do not progress [9]