The United States is grappling with the longest government shutdown in its history, now stretching into its 40th day as lawmakers remain deadlocked over a deal to reopen federal agencies. The impasse, which began on October 1, 2025, has left millions of Americans facing mounting hardships, from unpaid federal workers and delayed food assistance to widespread disruptions in air travel. As the nation waits for a breakthrough, the political and personal costs continue to climb.
At the heart of the standoff is a fierce battle over the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its tax credits, which help make health coverage more affordable for millions. President Donald Trump, whose administration has refused to compromise on the issue, has repeatedly slammed the ACA as "the worst Healthcare anywhere in the world" and, more recently, as "THE WORST HEALTHCARE FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE," according to his public statements on November 9, 2025. This hardline stance has made negotiations with Democrats, who are pushing for at least a one-year extension of ACA tax credits, especially contentious.
The Senate convened for a rare weekend session, hoping to break the deadlock. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., called for immediate action, saying, "The time to act is now." However, progress was slow as moderate Democrats, led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Independent Angus King of Maine, agreed to a deal that would reopen the government without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies. The proposal would fund three annual spending bills, extend the rest of government funding through late January 2026, and promise a future vote on health care subsidies by mid-December.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins expressed relief that a path to ending the shutdown was emerging, stating, "We must not delay any longer." Yet, many in the Democratic caucus were less enthusiastic. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer declared on the Senate floor, "America is in the midst of a Republican-made health care crisis," warning that Americans would "suffer immensely" if the crisis continued. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders called the proposed compromise "a horrific mistake." House Democrats echoed these concerns, with Rep. Greg Casar of Texas labeling the deal "a betrayal" and Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota expressing skepticism about its substance.
Despite the political wrangling, the shutdown's real-world effects are being felt across the country. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been forced to reduce flights at 40 of the busiest airports due to staffing shortages. Over the weekend of November 8-9, 2025, U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,500 flights, with more than 7,000 delays reported on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware. Charlotte, North Carolina, was hit particularly hard, with 130 cancellations by mid-afternoon on November 9. The situation is expected to worsen, with flight reductions projected to reach 10% by the end of the week. Air traffic controllers, working without pay for nearly a month, have been taking mandatory overtime and, in some cases, second jobs to make ends meet.
Travelers are understandably frustrated. "Travel is stressful enough. Then you put these disruptions in place and it really makes everything more challenging," said Heather Xu, a passenger flying home to Puerto Rico from Miami, as reported by Mathrubhumi. Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned on CNN that air travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday could be "reduced to a trickle" if the government remains closed.
The crisis is also hitting the most vulnerable Americans hard. About 42 million people—nearly one in eight—rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for monthly food aid, most of them living below the poverty line. The Trump administration initially refused to fund November SNAP benefits, prompting a federal judge to order the payments. However, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson paused that order on November 8, 2025, to allow for an appeals court review, leaving millions in limbo.
Some states, such as Hawaii, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Washington, acted quickly to issue full SNAP payments, while others, including Colorado, still have hundreds of thousands of recipients waiting. In North Carolina, more than 190,000 households received less than $16 in aid. The resulting uncertainty has sent demand at food banks and pantries soaring. The Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., reported providing 8 million more meals than planned this budget year—a nearly 20% increase. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee described the situation as "inhumane," accusing the president of "playing games with people's ability to feed their families, weaponizing hunger, and gaslighting the American people."
The shutdown's impact extends overseas as well. Thousands of local employees at U.S. military bases in Europe have gone unpaid, including nearly 11,000 in Germany. The German government stepped in to pay these workers, expecting reimbursement from the U.S. Italy and Portugal have not paid some of their local staff, with the Azores government in Portugal providing a bank loan to cover interim salaries at Lajes Field. The Pentagon acknowledged the contributions of these employees, stating, "We value the important contributions of our local national employees around the world." Union leaders in Italy have warned that workers are struggling to pay mortgages and fuel costs as the shutdown drags on.
Back in Washington, the political stalemate continues. While moderate Democrats and some Republicans have worked toward a deal that would reopen the government and promise a future vote on health care subsidies, others remain unconvinced. Republicans need just five Democratic votes to pass the agreement, and about a dozen Democrats have signaled support. Still, the lack of a firm commitment on health care has left many Democrats hesitant. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has refused to guarantee a health care vote, and Trump and Vice President JD Vance have called for scrapping the Senate filibuster to end the shutdown—a move Republican leaders have rejected.
The proposed agreement would reinstate federal workers who received layoff notices, reimburse states that used their own funds to keep federal programs running, and protect against future layoffs through January. It would also guarantee that all federal workers would be paid once the shutdown ends. Republicans released legislative text for three full-year spending bills, which maintain a ban on lawmaker pay raises but increase security funding for Congress in response to rising threats.
As the shutdown grinds on, Americans across the political spectrum are feeling the strain. Whether the Senate’s tentative deal will bring an end to the crisis—or simply delay the next showdown—remains to be seen. For now, the uncertainty continues, with millions waiting anxiously for relief and resolution.
