Government Shutdown Update: Key Developments and Impacts
The Senate again failed last night to advance a bill to reopen the government — the 11th try since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. The Senate is not expected to try again today.
Without a fix, many federal employees will not be getting paid this Friday, the first full paycheck they’ll miss as a result of the shutdown. By law federal workers are supposed to get back pay once the shutdown ends, but the White House has tried to cast doubt on that.
Meanwhile, President Trump has tied the shutdown to his overall goal of shrinking the size of the government, laying off workers en masse while it continues — and promising more — while specifically targeting what he calls “Democrat programs.”
Read the latest on a case brought by some fired federal workers to pause the latest wave of shutdown layoffs.
As the shutdown drags on, here’s the latest on what we know.
Jump to state-specific impacts.
Why did the federal government shut down?
A partisan argument over if and when lawmakers need to act to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces led to the current shutdown. Some 24 million people — who don’t have insurance through their jobs or a public program like Medicaid — use the system to buy health plans.
Prominent Republican lawmakers have claimed the Democrats are looking to provide tax dollars to help pay for the health care of undocumented immigrants. That is not true.
Democrats in the Senate refused to vote for the Republican short-term funding bill that passed the House but did not include an extension of the health care tax credits. Democrats are also hoping to repeal cuts to health care programs that were put in place as part of the GOP spending and tax bill that passed over the summer.
NPR’s Deirdre Walsh reports that some Democrats say Nov. 1 could be a key date in talks to loosen the current gridlock. That date marks the beginning of open enrollment for people getting coverage through the ACA, when most states will send notices to subscribers laying out the cost of coverage without subsidies. In Vermont, where notices started going out on Oct. 15, for example, some families are facing increases of $25,000, according to Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.
Read more about more about the health care fight behind the shutdown.
Plus, why Democrats are casting the government shutdown as a health care showdown from NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin.
Will the military get paid on Oct. 29?
The Trump administration earlier this month found unused research and development funds to pay active military members, according to a Pentagon official not authorized to speak publicly. So they didn’t miss a full paycheck, but it only covered one pay cycle. That was on Oct. 15; troops get paid every other Wednesday. Military families are already seeking additional assistance from food banks and other groups to help with paying bills.
Are government workers being laid off during the shutdown?
The Trump administration has been following through on threats to further slash the size of government during the shutdown, seeking to layoff roughly 4,000 workers earlier this month. Some workers are fighting back in court; the judge overseeing the case issued a temporary restraining order directing the Trump administration to pause reduction in force (RIF) efforts that affect certain unionized employees.
Read more about the case and how the Trump administration has reacted to the temporary court order
What about WIC and SNAP benefits?
Among the first to feel the pinch during this shutdown could be the 7 million mothers and young children who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food program.
Funding was estimated to run out after about two weeks. But USDA has distributed money from the previous fiscal year, helping at least some states. And the White House has said it will use tariff revenue to keep WIC afloat, though has provided few details. Trump’s budget proposal earlier this year had looked to cut WIC funding.
Beyond WIC, the country’s much larger food aid program — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP, previously known as food stamps) — is funded through October. That’s because the debit-like cards people use to buy food are loaded a month in advance, so benefits will continue for October. USDA earlier this month told state agencies to hold off paying for November benefits for lack of sufficient funding, “until further notice.”
Jennifer Ludden, NPR
Government Shutdown Update: Key Developments and Impacts
The Senate again failed last night to advance a bill to reopen the government — the 11th try since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. The Senate is not expected to try again today.
Without a fix, many federal employees will not be getting paid this Friday, the first full paycheck they’ll miss as a result of the shutdown. By law federal workers are supposed to get back pay once the shutdown ends, but the White House has tried to cast doubt on that.
Meanwhile, President Trump has tied the shutdown to his overall goal of shrinking the size of the government, laying off workers en masse while it continues — and promising more — while specifically targeting what he calls “Democrat programs.”
Read the latest on a case brought by some fired federal workers to pause the latest wave of shutdown layoffs.
As the shutdown drags on, here’s the latest on what we know.
Jump to state-specific impacts.
Why did the federal government shut down?
A partisan argument over if and when lawmakers need to act to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces led to the current shutdown. Some 24 million people — who don’t have insurance through their jobs or a public program like Medicaid — use the system to buy health plans.
Prominent Republican lawmakers have claimed the Democrats are looking to provide tax dollars to help pay for the health care of undocumented immigrants. That is not true.
Democrats in the Senate refused to vote for the Republican short-term funding bill that passed the House but did not include an extension of the health care tax credits. Democrats are also hoping to repeal cuts to health care programs that were put in place as part of the GOP spending and tax bill that passed over the summer.
NPR’s Deirdre Walsh reports that some Democrats say Nov. 1 could be a key date in talks to loosen the current gridlock. That date marks the beginning of open enrollment for people getting coverage through the ACA, when most states will send notices to subscribers laying out the cost of coverage without subsidies. In Vermont, where notices started going out on Oct. 15, for example, some families are facing increases of $25,000, according to Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.
Read more about more about the health care fight behind the shutdown.
Plus, why Democrats are casting the government shutdown as a health care showdown from NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin.
Will the military get paid on Oct. 29?
The Trump administration earlier this month found unused research and development funds to pay active military members, according to a Pentagon official not authorized to speak publicly. So they didn’t miss a full paycheck, but it only covered one pay cycle. That was on Oct. 15; troops get paid every other Wednesday. Military families are already seeking additional assistance from food banks and other groups to help with paying bills.
Are government workers being laid off during the shutdown?
The Trump administration has been following through on threats to further slash the size of government during the shutdown, seeking to layoff roughly 4,000 workers earlier this month. Some workers are fighting back in court; the judge overseeing the case issued a temporary restraining order directing the Trump administration to pause reduction in force (RIF) efforts that affect certain unionized employees.
Read more about the case and how the Trump administration has reacted to the temporary court order
What about WIC and SNAP benefits?
Among the first to feel the pinch during this shutdown could be the 7 million mothers and young children who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food program.
Funding was estimated to run out after about two weeks. But USDA has distributed money from the previous fiscal year, helping at least some states. And the White House has said it will use tariff revenue to keep WIC afloat, though has provided few details. Trump’s budget proposal earlier this year had looked to cut WIC funding.
Beyond WIC, the country’s much larger food aid program — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP, previously known as food stamps) — is funded through October. That’s because the debit-like cards people use to buy food are loaded a month in advance, so benefits will continue for October. USDA earlier this month told state agencies to hold off paying for November benefits for lack of sufficient funding, “until further notice.”
Jennifer Ludden, NPR
Senate Fails Again to Reopen Government as Shutdown Enters 11th Day
Washington, D.C. — In a frustrating turn of events, the Senate failed once more last night to advance a bill aimed at reopening the government, marking the 11th unsuccessful attempt since the shutdown began on October 1. With no further votes scheduled for today, the stalemate continues to leave federal employees in limbo as they brace for the first full paycheck they will miss this Friday due to the ongoing crisis.
While federal workers are legally entitled to back pay once the shutdown concludes, uncertainty looms as the White House has cast doubt on this promise. President Trump has linked the shutdown to his broader agenda of reducing government size, threatening mass layoffs while specifically targeting what he describes as “Democrat programs.”
The Health Care Impasse
The current shutdown stems from a partisan dispute over extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, which serve approximately 24 million individuals who lack insurance through employment or public programs. Republican lawmakers have accused Democrats of seeking to use taxpayer dollars to fund health care for undocumented immigrants, a claim that has been widely debunked.
Democrats have resisted a Republican short-term funding bill that passed the House, citing its failure to include necessary health care tax credits. They are also advocating for the repeal of cuts to health care programs enacted in the GOP’s summer spending and tax bill.
NPR’s Deirdre Walsh reports that November 1 could be a pivotal date in negotiations, coinciding with the start of open enrollment for ACA coverage. In states like Vermont, families are already facing staggering increases in health care costs, with some seeing hikes of up to $25,000.
Military Pay and Worker Layoffs
As the shutdown drags on, questions remain about military pay. Earlier this month, the Trump administration utilized unused research and development funds to ensure active military members received their pay on October 15, but this only covered one pay cycle. Military families are now turning to food banks and other resources to manage their finances.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is following through on its threats to reduce the size of government, seeking to lay off approximately 4,000 workers. Some affected employees are fighting back in court, with a judge issuing a temporary restraining order to pause layoffs impacting certain unionized workers.
Impact on WIC and SNAP Benefits
The shutdown is also beginning to affect vital nutrition programs. The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is at risk, with funding expected to run out within weeks. Although the USDA has managed to distribute leftover funds from the previous fiscal year, the White House has indicated it will use tariff revenue to keep WIC operational, though details remain scarce.
The larger Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves millions of Americans, is currently funded through October. However, the USDA has advised state agencies to delay payments for November benefits due to funding uncertainties.
As the shutdown continues, the impacts are being felt across the nation, with federal employees, military families, and vulnerable populations all facing an uncertain future. The political gridlock shows no signs of resolution, leaving many to wonder when relief will finally arrive.
