The former US President George W Bush has delivered pizza to members of the Secret Service to thank them for working without pay.
The US Federal Government shutdown is now entering its fifth week – the longest in the country’s history.
The dispute centres on US President Donald Trump’s demand for nearly €6m in federal funding to build his wall along the southern border with Mexico.
Democrats have refused to agree any spending bill that includes funding for the wall – while President Trump won't sign any bill without it.
Over 800,000 federal have been caught up in the shutdown – either unable to go to work or forced to work without pay.
Overnight former President Bush posted an image of himself delivering pizza to Secret Service agents – noting that he and his wife Laura are “grateful to our Secret Service personnel and the thousands of Federal employees who are working hard for our country without a pay-check.”
“It’s time for leaders on both sides to put politics aside, come together, and end this shutdown,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Trump has pledged to make a "major announcement" on the shutdown this evening.
He is expected to attempt to entice Democrats by offering concessions on other issues - however the plan is not based on any talks with the opposing party and officials are pessimistic that it will change anything regarding the impasse.
