Lawmakers have begun exploring options to extend temporary funding to the government after the Senate failed to approve a short-term funding patch through Nov. 21.
A major milestone in the government shutdown is just around the corner
The ongoing government shutdown could disrupt paychecks, Head Start programs, and health benefits by November.
WASHINGTON – The second-longest government shutdown in history will likely last at least through the weekend, as the Senate is in recess until next week.
The senators left the party on Thursday after failing to advance a bill aimed at paying essential workers such as the military and immigration enforcement officers despite budget shortfalls. Workers do not expect to receive their first full paycheck within a few days, depending on where they work.
This vote was different from 11 previous votes that failed to advance a House-passed bill funding the government by Nov. 21. The final vote on the temporary relief package came Wednesday as advocates warned of a lack of food benefits, flight delays and other service losses during the government shutdown.
As the government shutdown enters its 24th day and drags on, lawmakers are exploring options for a longer-term temporary funding bill to complete negotiations on year-round funding for government agencies.
Health care policy continues to be a dividing point for Democrats, 24 days into the federal government shutdown.
Senate Democrats have blocked Republican-backed continuing resolutions to fund the government at existing spending levels 12 times. Democrats say their reopening bill should also extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and reverse Republican Medicaid cuts passed in the summer.
Republicans have refused to negotiate on health care policy, insisting that health care subsidies should be debated in Congress after the shutdown ends.
Democrats have circled November 1 as a key date for their push. At that time, universal enrollment in the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, will begin and millions of Americans will begin purchasing health insurance plans in 2026.
If the subsidies aren’t extended by November, consumers on healthcare.gov could experience sticker shock when they start looking for health plans. If subsidies are not renewed, insurance premiums for millions of Americans are expected to double, according to research organization KFF.
Inflation picked up again in September, the job market showed signs of cooling and prices continued to rise as consumers headed into the holiday season.
According to the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index, which measures the cost of goods and services across the country, consumer prices rose 3% from a year ago, up slightly from 2.9% in August.
The economic impact of the ongoing government shutdown has not yet been fully felt, said Stephen Cates, a financial analyst at Bankrate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has suspended data collection for October due to a lack of funding.
“Federal job cuts and lack of back pay will constrain spending and worsen working conditions, especially in the most affected rural areas,” Cates said in an Oct. 21 memo. “The longer the shutdown lasts, the bigger our blind spots will be regarding the current economic situation.”
– Rachel Barber
The Labor Department’s employment report was delayed due to the ongoing shutdown, but today’s consumer price index received special attention because it was needed to calculate the Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA).
The Social Security Administration announced a 2.8% adjustment in 2026, which is larger than the 2.5% increase that beneficiaries will receive in 2025.
– Rachel Barber
Pilots at major airlines are jumping into the fight over the federal government shutdown. Three pilot unions are asking Congress to end the stalemate by passing a continuing resolution supported by Republicans.
The United Airline Pilots Association, the NetJets Jitney Aircraft Pilots Association, and the United Pilots Association released separate statements Thursday calling on Congress to pass a “clean” continuing resolution to reopen the government.
Their statement came after a fourth union, the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, endorsed a Republican-backed continuing resolution a day earlier.
About 13,000 air traffic controllers, considered “essential” workers, are working without pay during the shutdown. Transportation Security Administration employees are also being forced to work without pay.
“A shortage of air traffic controllers has created stress and strain on the national airspace system this year,” the Federation of Airline Pilot Associations said in a statement. “They report that they are now working without pay, so this closure will only exacerbate the pressures they face.”
The Airline Pilots Association, the largest pilots union with about 80,000 members, called on lawmakers in an Oct. 15 statement to find a solution to restarting government, but did not say what legislation Congress should pass.
The White House warned that Americans should expect delays and disruptions at airports if the closure extends over the Thanksgiving holiday, which historically sees a surge in travel.
“We are concerned that we will experience significant flight delays, disruptions and cancellations across the United States this holiday season,” White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said in a briefing with reporters on Thursday. “If Democrats continue to shut down the government, they will also shut down U.S. air travel.” read more.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) proposed a bill to pay “essential” workers, such as air traffic controllers, military personnel and immigration enforcement officers, who continue to work despite short pay.
“We’re not paying them,” Johnson said. “That’s unreasonable.”
The 54-45 vote fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass the bill. In addition to Republicans, three Democrats also supported the bill: Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
President Trump told reporters he did not know whether the shutdown would be lifted by the time he returns from his trip to Asia on October 30.
“I don’t know,” he told reporters at the White House.
President Trump departed on Friday for a tour of Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. But he said the Democratic Party is “absolutely insane” and that its unpredictability makes resolving the conflict uncertain.
“I don’t think they know what they’re doing right now,” Trump said.
The House passed a bill to continue funding the government through Nov. 21 because lawmakers believed seven weeks would be enough time to approve a full-year spending bill.
But half that period has already passed without even one-time funding being approved, and lawmakers are beginning to explore options to both reopen the government and provide funding for a full year.
Another bill may be needed just to reopen the government until December or next year. But the House remains out while waiting for the Senate to reopen the government. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) opposes reinstating the House until the Senate takes action.
Rep. Jason Smith (R-Missouri), chairman of the Taxation and Revenue Committee, told Bloomberg TV on Wednesday that some Republicans are talking about extending funding beyond the next election until Dec. 1, 2026.
“Every day that passes, we have less time to fund the government,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) told reporters Monday.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that a shortage of air traffic controllers could lead to more flight delays and cancellations as the holidays approach.
Duffy told reporters on Oct. 23 that air traffic controllers will not receive their first full paycheck on Oct. 28. As Duffy became more worried about how she would pay her mortgage, car loan or put food on the table, she worried she would look for a second job.
Regarding the stressful job that requires concentration, Duffy said, “I don’t want someone to be an air traffic controller.”
Mr Duffy said a shortage of air traffic controllers would result in fewer flights.
“Safety is our top priority,” Duffy said. “You’ll see us slowing down traffic. You’ll see us canceling flights.”
Sharon Parrott, director of the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said the Trump administration is likely to continue providing food assistance to low-income households through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program despite the shutdown.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that if the shutdown continues, full benefits will no longer be available by November 1st. But Parrott, a former Office of Management and Budget official, said the government could shift billions of dollars in emergency funds to continue benefits to the 42 million people in the program.
“It is unconscionable to go out of your way to threaten millions of children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, parents, and workers with hunger without taking all legal steps to provide food assistance to those in need,” Trump said.
