(ECNS) -- As the U.S. federal government shutdown enters its 27th day, essential safety net programs face disruption, leaving millions of Americans vulnerable.

This has become the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The longest occurred during the first term of its president Donald Trump, lasting 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, U.S. media reported.

According to AP News, if no deal is reached, federal funds are set to run out as early as Saturday, jeopardizing critical assistance that helps tens of millions of Americans afford food and early childhood education.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves roughly 42 million low-income Americans, is among the hardest hit. Funding for Head Start preschool and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, is also running out, according to AP News.

Patrick Griffin, a former White House official, told The New York Times that the biggest difference between this round of shutdown battles and previous ones is the heightened intensity of partisan conflict.

On issues from immigration to healthcare, Republicans and Democrats increasingly struggle to find common ground. In this climate, nearly every issue becomes politicized, with both parties appearing more focused on defeating the opponent than on serving the public interest.

Analysts say the U.S. government funding mechanism intrinsically ties federal operations to budgetary approvals, yet lacks effective dispute resolution protocols. While its law allows congress and the president to check and balance each other, it fails to provide safeguards for when these mechanisms deadlock.

(By Zhang Dongfang)