Former President George W. Bush was busy on Friday with his pizza delivery to feed federal staff left unpaid up to the fifth week by Trump's government shutdown

"@LauraWBush and I are grateful to our Secret Service personnel and the thousands of Federal employees who are working hard for our country without a paycheck. And we thank our fellow citizens who are supporting them," he captioned the pic. "It’s time for leaders on both sides to put politics aside, come together, and end this shutdown."

The government shutdown, which began on Dec. 22, has affected nearly 800,000 government employees. Last Friday, it became the longest government shutdown in United States history, surpassing the 21-day shutdown the country experienced under President Bill Clinton in the '90s. 

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump said the shutdown could last "months or even years" if Congress didn't give him the $5.6 billion he was asking for his wall at the southern border. He also said he was considering declaring a national emergency to build the wall without congressional approval. 

Congressional Democrats have responded by urging Trump to reopen the government during discussions about border security, however, things appear to be at a standstill. 

Posts on social media showed Mr Bush bringing the food to his Secret Service detail.

"It's time for leaders on both sides to put politics aside, come together, and end this shutdown," Mr Bush wrote on Instagram.

The shutdown has entered a fifth week and is the longest in US history.

About 800,000 US federal staff are at home or working without pay during the political deadlock over funding for Mr Trump's proposed border wall.

This includes about 6,000 Secret Service staff, around 85% of whom are reportedly still working through the shutdown.

Mr Bush's delivery comes after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asked President Trump to delay the annual State of the Union speech on security grounds.

The Secret Service was "hamstrung" by the lack of funding, Ms Pelosi wrote in a letter, arguing he should deliver the speech in writing given the huge security needs for the event.

President Trump halted the House Speaker's planned trip to Brussels and Afghanistan two days later, denying her the use of military aircraft.

"It would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me," he wrote.

Former President Bush's gesture comes after Canadian air traffic controllers sent their counterparts over the border hundreds of pizzas to help during the shutdown.

President Trump meanwhile laid on a feast of more than 300 burgers at the White House, due to the lack of catering staff amid the shutdown.

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