WASHINGTON (AP) — In a determined effort to oppose President Donald Trump’s perceived consolidation of power, Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley from Oregon is delivering an extensive speech on the Senate floor amidst the ongoing government shutdown.

Merkley initiated his address at 6:21 p.m. on Tuesday and has continued speaking for over 17 hours, taking brief intermissions to entertain questions from fellow Democratic senators.

This protracted speech occurs as Democrats have instigated the government shutdown, demanding an extension of government health care subsidies. Meanwhile, Republicans have stood firm, refusing to discuss the lapsing tax credits until Democrats agree to reopen the government. Democrats have consistently voted 11 times to maintain the shutdown, with a 12th vote anticipated on Wednesday, yet both parties remain at an impasse.

Throughout his address, Merkley criticized Republicans for closing the government, accusing them of pursuing a strategy to diminish Americans’ health care following their previous summer cuts to Medicaid and other key programs.

Merkley dedicated several hours to outline what he considers Trump’s authoritarian actions, including undermining the press and implementing policies that, according to Democrats, favor billionaires over ordinary citizens. He argued that Trump’s agenda seeks to transform a government meant to serve the populace into one that serves the interests of the powerful elite.

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey broke the record for longest continuous floor speech in April. Booker, who also was protesting Trump, broke a record set 68 years ago by then-Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.

Merkley had already broken his own record for a floor speech, which was more than 15 hours in 2017 to protest Trump’s nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. At the time, it was the Senate’s eighth-longest floor speech.

By holding the floor open all night, Merkley forced Senate floor staff, security and other support workers who are currently unpaid to work overtime hours. The government has been shut down since Oct. 1.

“The Democrats are going to make Capitol Police and Capitol support staff — who they refuse to pay — work all night so they can give speeches patting themselves on the back for shutting down the government and hurting the American people,” Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, posted on X Tuesday night. “How ridiculous is that?”

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Ryan Wrasse, posted that Thune provided dinner on Tuesday night “for all of the unpaid Capitol Police officers and support staff who were stuck here.”

At around 2:45 a.m., Merkley paused to untie his shoelace. He said standing in one place had “made my shoes a little tight.”

“I don’t recommend standing through the night and talking,” said Merkley, who turns 69 on Friday. “Not a healthy pursuit. But I am standing here to ring the alarm bells.”