A partial government shutdown stretching into its eighth week shows no signs of resolution as Congress breaks for recess until mid-April, leaving federal agencies in limbo and hundreds of thousands of workers without pay.
The impasse centers on disagreements over Department of Homeland Security funding, with Speaker Johnson facing pressure from GOP members unwilling to accept his proposed deal on the issue.
Meanwhile, President Trump has escalated rhetoric toward Iran, warning Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. ET Tuesday or face military consequences. Trump threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants if the deadline passes unmet.
When pressed about whether such strikes would constitute war crimes under international law, Trump dismissed the concern outright. "I'm not worried about it," he said, pivoting to argue that possessing nuclear weapons represents a more serious violation. "You know what's a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon."
The dual crises underscore the turbulent political environment in Washington. The shutdown's prolonged duration has rattled financial markets and frustrated federal employees facing weeks without paychecks. Budget negotiations have stalled on security funding specifics, with Republicans divided over how much leverage to use in talks.
Congress will not reconvene for nearly two weeks, effectively freezing legislative action on the shutdown while the administration pursues its confrontation with Iran. The timing compounds pressure on lawmakers returning after recess to reach a resolution quickly.
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