WASHINGTON

US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday called on Senate Democrats to advance a Republican-backed funding bill and end the government shutdown.

"Stop this craziness and open the government," Vance told reporters outside the White House on day 30 of the federal government shutdown.

Vance criticized Senate Democrats for what he described as obstruction in advancing a compromise measure that has already cleared the House of Representatives.

"We have had now multiple votes to reopen the United States government. The House of Representatives has voted affirmatively to reopen the United States government. Fifty-two Republicans and three Democrats consistently vote to reopen the United States government. But we need 60 votes. So, all we need to end the craziness ... all we need is five reasonable Democrats to join three moderate Democrats and 52 Republicans to reopen the government," he said.

The shutdown, now in its fourth week, has led to furloughs of hundreds of thousands of federal employees and disruptions to public services across the country. Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents have been working without pay, while federal nutrition assistance programs face increasing strain.

Vance praised federal workers who continue to perform essential duties despite financial uncertainty.

"I don't think Americans should be afraid to fly, because we've got great airline professionals who are keeping the safest aviation industry in the world afloat, but they're doing it with incredible stress," he said.

Framing the standoff as a test of political will, the vice president accused Democrats of refusing to negotiate in good faith.

“Here is our very simple proposal to the Democrats: let’s sit down and come to a compromise and work it out,” Vance said. “And you know what the Democrats’ response to that is? ‘Give us everything we want, or we’re going to shut down the government and keep it shut down.’ That is not reasonable behavior.”

Vance insisted that Republicans are willing to work with Democrats on long-term policy issues, including health care and insurance costs, but said the government must first reopen.

“We need five more reasonable Democrats to put the American people first and reopen the government,” he said. “That’s all that we’re asking.”

Speaking alongside Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the shutdown has effects on the airspace.

"I do think as this shutdown continues, you're going to see more pressure on controllers, more pressure on TSA workers, and that's going to have real impact," Duffy said, calling on Senate Democrats not to hold American families travel hostage.

"Open up the government. Have a conversation. Let's get it resolved. But again, every day it gets harder," he added.

The shutdown, the second-longest in US history, began Oct. 1 after a breakdown in negotiations on federal spending priorities.