The U.S. government shutdown entered its 28th day, making it the second-longest funding lapse in history, as federal employees and millions of Americans who depend on food assistance face mounting uncertainty.
Federal workers missed their first full paycheck last week, and essential employees, including air traffic controllers and military personnel, are required to continue working without pay. Flights at major hubs such as Newark Liberty, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Austin-Bergstrom are experiencing delays averaging 18 to 39 minutes, with some cancellations attributed to staffing shortages.
The head of the American Federation of Government Employees emphasized that “it’s long past time for our leaders to put aside partisan politics and embrace responsible government,” urging lawmakers to pass a “clean” continuing resolution to reopen operations.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports more than 40 million Americans, will not distribute benefits on November 1 due to the shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed. The agency noted that a roughly $5–6 billion contingency fund, reserved for emergencies, will not be tapped to maintain payments.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is facing legal challenges over layoffs issued to federal employees during the shutdown. A federal judge in San Francisco is set to determine whether to indefinitely halt reductions-in-force affecting thousands of workers, after temporary restraining orders were issued earlier this month. Employees have testified to the significant emotional and physical strain caused by repeated layoff notices, with one Commerce Department analyst describing the experience as “traumatic” and lasting in its impact.
As congressional leaders and the administration remain locked in negotiations, both parties continue to blame each other for the shutdown’s consequences. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the SNAP freeze “callous, cynical, and entirely unnecessary,” while Senate Majority Leader John Thune argued that Democrats are using the stalemate to advance a political agenda rather than seeking solutions. With critical deadlines approaching and millions affected, the pressure on lawmakers to reach an agreement is mounting.
