Government shutdown will be the longest in history
Zach Schermelet reported from Capitol Hill as the shutdown exceeded 35 days, the longest period on record.
The federal government is in its 38th day of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, furloughing about 750,000 federal employees, putting thousands more to work without pay and cutting off food assistance to millions of Americans. Starting Friday, Nov. 7, airports across the United States are preparing to cut flights due to lack of pay for air traffic controllers.
The Senate is scheduled to vote on a revised budget on Friday, a sign of some progress after Republicans introduced a new proposal that includes a year’s worth of funding for food aid, military construction and veterans affairs, as well as short-term stopgap funding.
But even if Senate Democrats and Republicans reach a deal this week to reopen the government, the bill would still need House approval before President Donald Trump can sign it into law.
Is the government still closed?
Yes, the federal government has remained largely shut down since shortly after midnight on October 1st.
With the exception of military personnel and some Department of Homeland Security employees, who were paid on October 15 and October 31, other federal employees remained unpaid during the shutdown. The last partial paycheck on Oct. 10 included hours worked before the shutdown.
Are SNAP benefits issued?
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to fully cover this month’s food aid to 42 million low-income Americans by Nov. 7 and halt plans to cut benefits during the government shutdown.
U.S. District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island accused the administration of withholding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, known as SNAP or food stamps, for “political reasons” and ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund the program so people receive 100% of their benefits.
The Trump administration has appealed McConnell’s ruling, but it remains unclear whether SNAP benefits will be paid in full as ordered by the judge.
What’s happening with US flights?
The US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered flight reductions at major airports due to a shortage of air traffic controllers due to the shutdown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Nov. 5 ordered 40 major U.S. airports, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, to begin reducing flights by 10% starting Friday, impacting both commercial and cargo services.
On Nov. 6, the FAA revised its plan, saying airlines must begin cutting 4% on domestic flights starting Friday at 6 a.m. ET and expand to a full 10% cut by Nov. 14.
What do Democrats and Republicans want from reopening the government?
Democrats want to secure tax breaks for the 24 million Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act, but have refused to support government spending bills that do not address the issue.
Senate Democrats want to make the tax cuts, which are set to expire at the end of the year, permanent and provide reassurance to prevent the Trump administration from temporarily withholding funds.
Republicans and the president have said they are open to considering fixes to the expiring ACA tax cuts, but want the issue to be addressed separately from the ongoing budget impasse.
Contributors: USA TODAY’s Joey Garrison, Trevor Hughes, Bert Jansen, Melina Kahn, Kathryn Palmer, Rebecca Morin, James Powell, Mark Ramirez, Zachary Charmelet, Zach Wictor, Mary Walrus-Holdridge, Sarah D. Wyer, Kathleen Wong and N’Dare Yancey-Bragg. and Reuters
