3WASHINGTON, D.C. – The federal government remained paralyzed Wednesday as negotiations between congressional Republicans and Democrats collapsed over a slate of spending proposals that some lawmakers call “foreign policy wish lists” unrelated to core government operations.
The shutdown, now stretching through its second week, has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without pay while essential services continue under strained conditions.
Talks broke down late Tuesday after Democrats reportedly pushed for several international funding provisions in the budget package, prompting strong backlash from GOP lawmakers.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida posted on X, formerly Twitter, a list of what she described as “ridiculous Democrat demands” that Republicans say must be