The BareStory
A federal government shutdown continued to affect states across the country on November 9, 2025, prompting responses from state leaders and a rare Sunday session planned for the U.S. Senate. Officials from both major parties offered differing views on the cause of the shutdown and the path to resolving it, while detailing the growing impact on residents receiving federal assistance.
Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, called for an immediate reopening of the government, stating the shutdown was causing "devastation" for hundreds of thousands of federal employees and SNAP recipients in her state. New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, also a Democrat, attributed the shutdown to the Trump administration and congressional Republicans over a dispute involving healthcare subsidies. Sherrill said that without the subsidies, healthcare costs in New Jersey could see a significant increase.
In West Virginia, Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the activation of the National Guard and the direction of up to $13 million to food banks to assist the state’s more than 270,000 SNAP recipients. Morrisey, a Republican, blamed Democrats for the stalemate, claiming it could end if they supported a continuing resolution without new provisions. He described the Trump administration as a cooperative partner in the state’s efforts to mitigate the shutdown's effects.
The governors also addressed other pressing issues. Both Spanberger and Sherrill noted rising energy costs in their states, with Sherrill stating she plans to declare a state of emergency to freeze utility rate hikes. Spanberger also accused the Trump administration of a "pressure campaign" against universities by withholding federal research funds. The shutdown is also linked to broader debates on healthcare, with leaders from both parties warning of severe financial consequences for their states' healthcare systems under different proposed bills.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
• The shutdown may disrupt food assistance programs for SNAP recipients. Some states are using funds and the National Guard to support local food banks.
• Federal government employees could face significant financial hardship. One official described the impact on hundreds of thousands of workers in her state as "devastation."
• Healthcare costs could rise in states like New Jersey. The shutdown is linked to a dispute over federal subsidies that may affect insurance prices.
• Residents in some states may see emergency freezes on utility rate hikes as leaders address rising energy costs during the shutdown.
• Universities could lose federal research funding, which a state leader claims is being withheld by the administration as a "pressure campaign."
