The BareStory
The federal government shutdown reached its 37th day on Thursday as negotiations in Congress to resolve the funding impasse continued. A central point of disagreement is the extension of enhanced health care subsidies, set to expire at the end of the year, which were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Republicans presented a proposal offering Democrats a future Senate vote on extending the health subsidies in exchange for votes to end the shutdown. Thune clarified he could guarantee a vote but not a specific outcome, nor could he speak for the House. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson stated he would not commit to holding a vote on the subsidies, telling reporters he was "not promising anybody anything" and blaming Senate Democrats for the stalemate.
The division has prolonged the shutdown, with many Democrats indicating that a Senate vote alone is insufficient without a commitment from the House. Following a caucus meeting, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described it as "productive," though other Democrats gave mixed assessments. According to Senator Bernie Sanders, a Senate vote would be meaningless without House support. The Republican conference also appears divided, with the 189-member Republican Study Committee issuing a position against extending the credits, while some moderate Republicans have reportedly advocated for a one-year extension.
Amid the legislative standoff, the Trump administration announced impending flight reductions. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said flights would be cut by 10% at 40 major airports starting Friday to reduce strain on air traffic controllers working without pay. Separately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would receive up to 65% of their November benefits.
The Senate is expected to vote Friday on a procedural measure to advance a short-term government funding bill, which would require bipartisan support to pass. In another development on Thursday, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she will not seek reelection and will retire at the end of her term in early 2027.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• Flights will be cut by 10% at 40 major airports, potentially causing travel disruptions, as air traffic controllers continue to work without pay.
• Households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will get up to 65% of their November payments due to the shutdown.
• Some individuals may face higher health care costs if pandemic-era subsidies expire, as the extension of these credits is central to the legislative stalemate.
