Federal government shutdown over: top takeaways

Today is Day 43 of the federal government shutdown. Senate leaders voted Monday night to approve a bipartisan deal to reopen and fund the government to January 30, and the House is expected to take up the legislative package after 4:00 p.m. ET today, with final votes around 7:30 p.m. President Trump has already said that he will sign the measure into law. If everything goes as planned, the federal shutdown will end this evening.

The legislative package includes full-year spending bills for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction projects, and the operations of Congress. After the shutdown ends, policymakers will need to work quickly to resolve differences and negotiate the remaining full-year spending bills to avoid another government shutdown when the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on January 30. Senate leaders are already working on another package of full-year spending bills, including Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD, and possibly Commerce-Science-Justice and Interior-Environment. 

Policymakers also need to discuss any bipartisan path forward on extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that expire this year; a vote to be held in mid-December was promised to Senate Democrats.

SNAP Update

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court extended its stay on the Circuit Court ruling directing the Trump Administration to fully fund SNAP benefits. The Supreme Court’s order extends the stay for another two days until midnight on Thursday, November 13. By then, Congress will likely have enacted legislation to reopen the government, providing the funding necessary to issue full SNAP benefits to households. If this happens, the Supreme Court may decide that the issue is moot.

At this time, many states have proceeded with issuing partial or full SNAP benefits. See here for more details, based on information available as of November 9.

When the government reopens, USDA will move to provide full SNAP benefits to households. The legislative package discussed above replenishes the SNAP contingency fund, but it does not provide enough funding to ensure full benefits when there is another shutdown (because full-year SNAP funding is included in the package, the soonest this could happen is October 2026). The bill does not provide funding to reimburse states for funding they provided to issue benefits during the shutdown.

Advocacy

From the National Council of Nonprofits: Thank you for all of your advocacy during the shutdown. From collecting stories from impacted nonprofits to helping NCN identify declarants for the SNAP litigation, you played an important role in advocating for nonprofits across the nation, including nonprofit food banks and food pantries working to help their neighbors put food on the table.

November 10: Today is Day 41 of the government shutdown.

SNAP Updates: Find out how states are responding here.

Over the past several days, there have been several major developments in the National Council of Nonprofits’ SNAP litigation. 

As you know, on October 31, a federal judge ordered the Trump Administration to immediately provide emergency funds to continue SNAP benefits. When the Administration refused to distribute federal funds in a timely manner and insisted on only providing partial funding, the federal judge again ordered the Administration on November 6 to provide full SNAP benefits to ensure millions of Americans would not go hungry while the case proceeds. 

The lower court’s decision was upheld on November 7 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit after the Trump Administration appealed. Before the Circuit Court could issue a written opinion, however, the Trump Administration filed an emergency motion to the U.S. Supreme Court, which granted over the weekend, a temporary pause on the lower court’s order for 48 hours after the appeals court issued its ruling. Late last night, the Circuit Court did so — again, directing the Administration to provide full SNAP benefits. 

Per the Supreme Court, however, the directive to provide full SNAP benefits is stayed for 48 hours. We should know by 11:00 a.m. ET November 10 whether the Trump Administration will again appeal to the Supreme Court, where the prospects for the litigation are uncertain.

Hill Updates

After 40 days, the Senate has reached a bipartisan agreement to reopen and fund the government through January 30. 

Last night, the Senate voted to approve a procedural measure to advance a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen and fund the government. The legislative package includes full-year spending bills for Agriculture-FDA, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch. It also ensures federal workers will receive back pay and those who were laid off during the shutdown will be rehired. As part of the agreement to end the shutdown, Senate Leader Thune (R-SD) promised to hold a vote in December to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year. The outcome of that vote is not guaranteed, nor whether the House will also hold a vote.

The CR package is on track to receive a vote on the Senate floor soon, though the exact timing is unclear because of possible procedural delays. After it passes the Senate, the bill will head to the House before it lands on President Trump’s desk for his signature. The package is expected to be enacted sometime this week, bringing an end to the shutdown.

Impacts

When the federal shutdown ends, federal funding – including for SNAP benefits – can resume. 

The legislative package working its way through Congress includes the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 spending bill for USDA, including $107 billion in mandatory funding for SNAP and reimbursements for both the SNAP and WIC contingency reserves to account for expenditures during the government shutdown. This includes reimbursement for the partial SNAP benefits that were the result of a court order due to NCN’s litigation.

The bipartisan authors of the bill also issued a joint statement, clarifying that Congress “expects the Department to provide the remainder of the allotment [of SNAP benefits] for those eligible households as soon as practicable.”

November 7: Today is Day 38 of the government shutdown.

SNAP Litigation

Yesterday afternoon, a federal judge ordered the administration to provide full SNAP benefits—a major victory for households! Soon after, the administration issued new guidance from USDA to states, directing them to provide full benefits to households. Based on the new guidance, many states are moving forward, including California, Connecticut, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin—possibly more.

At the same time, however, the administration is appealing the court’s order to U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. The Administration asked for a decision by 4:00 p.m. today. The Circuit Court could issue their decision at any time.

This article underscores why the National Council of Nonprofits’ SNAP litigation is so important. It shares some of the heartbreaking stories of parents struggling to feed themselves and their families without food assistance:

• “I will get hunger pains at some point, but I just ignore them. I just tell myself I’m on a fast.”
• “I haven’t been sleeping. I’m so stressed that I’m up all night.”
• “It breaks my heart because I’ve never had to tell my kids ‘no’ for food…And I’m trying to explain to them, we’re not getting our food money right now.”
• “What are we supposed to do? It’s now a choice between food and bills. Do we keep a roof over our head or do I feed my children? Do I pay the electricity bill or do I feed my children?”

A third lawsuit on SNAP has been filed. The Impact Fund filed a national class action with three plaintiffs. The complaint was filed on Tuesday, and a motion for class certification and temporary restraining order was filed on Wednesday. An emergency hearing will be held on Monday at 5:00 p.m. ET. You can read their blog post and media advisory for more information. 

Hill Updates

There is still no agreement on reopening the government. Senate Leader Thune (R-SD) has promised Democrats a floor vote on an extension of the enhanced healthcare subsidies that expire at the end of the year. Senate Democrats disagree over whether to accept this deal; there is no guarantee of the outcome of the vote, and no commitment from House Speaker Johnson (R-LA) that the House will hold a vote. 

Democrats, on the other hand, have said that they would be willing to reopen the government if the CR also includes a one-year extension of the healthcare tax credits and the creation of a bipartisan committee to negotiate changes to the way health insurance is subsidized by the federal government—something Leader Thune quickly dismissed.

Thune has said that he may keep the Senate in session and schedule another vote on the CR over the weekend.

Impacts

Flights at dozens of major U.S. airports will be cut by 10% at 40 “high impact” airports and more cuts could follow as Thanksgiving nears. Airlines cut at least 4% of today’s flights at those airports, and they will ramp up to 10% next week. A 10% reduction translates to dozens of flights at each of the country’s busiest airports, affecting thousands of travelers at each airport daily.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is facing a funding cliff. Rep. Burchett said in a statement it was “unconscionable not to fund” LIHEAP, which “could run out of funds by the end of this week.”

November 6: Today is Day 37 of the federal government shutdown.

SNAP Litigation

In a hearing today, a federal judge ordered the Administration to provide FULL SNAP benefits to households by Friday, November 7. In a motion to the court, attorneys for the National Council of Nonprofits and the other plaintiffs argued that the administration’s decision to only provide partial benefits violated the court’s previous order. The judge issued a new temporary restraining order to require the Administration to provide full funding by November 7.

As NCN president and CEO Diane Yentel says in a press statement, “I applaud the court for taking action to prevent the Trump Administration from using food assistance as a political tool. America’s families, children, and seniors cannot wait for basic and critically needed food security, and this court order makes clear that there is no excuse for the Administration’s decision to leave them without food on their tables. Nonprofit food banks and food pantries are already doing everything they can to serve their communities. Every delay or reduction in SNAP benefits puts an unsustainable strain on the nonprofit sector.”

This is another important victory for the 42 million people who rely on SNAP and nonprofits nationwide working to address hunger in their communities!

Hill Updates

Congressional leaders are starting to discuss the details of a deal to reopen and fund the government. Republicans first need to get on the same page about how long the continuing resolution (CR) should last; conservative members want the CR to go into January, worried that a December deadline will force House Republicans to accept a final spending package they oppose. For that reason, many suspect that the CR will keep the government funded into January. 

A package of full spending bills—called a “minibus”—could be added to the CR, including spending for Agriculture-FDA, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, and Legislative Branch. Members of Congress see this as a sign of good faith that both parties want to negotiate regular appropriations bills and avoid a future government shutdown.

Republicans have signaled that they are willing to discuss rehiring federal workers who have been laid off during the shutdown as part of a deal to end it.

It is unclear how Congress and the White House will resolve the issue of expiring Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits.

Impacts

A new poll found that:

• More than three-fourths of voters had a favorable view of SNAP and said they would be “very” or “somewhat” concerned if benefits were paused. 

• Nearly 80 percent of voters want President Donald Trump to use emergency dollars to pay SNAP benefits in November

Sixty-five percent of Republicans and 90 percent of Democrats were supportive of using reserve funds to keep SNAP benefits afloat.

November 5: Today is Day 36 of the federal government shutdown, making it the longest in U.S. history.

SNAP Litigation

After President Trump threatened not to comply with a federal court judge’s order to use contingency funds to provide partial SNAP benefits, the White House backtracked. The National Council of Nonprofits and the other plaintiffs in the case filed a second motion yesterday, urging the court to require the Administration use additional discretionary funds to provide full SNAP benefits. The Administration is required to respond to NCN’s motion by the end of the day on Wednesday, and a hearing will be held November 6 at 3:30 p.m. to hear arguments.

Hill Updates

Now that the election has passed, there is some hope that members of Congress and the White House can reach an agreement on reopening and funding the federal government. 

Senate Republicans met this morning with the President to discuss strategy, while Senate Democrats met yesterday for nearly three hours. This morning, Senate Democrat Leader Schumer and House Leader Jeffries sent a letter to the President this morning, demanding a meeting to negotiate an end to the shutdown.

There are a lot of details that need to be negotiated for a continuing resolution (CR): some members of Congress want to add a full spending bill for Agriculture programs, including funding to replenish the SNAP contingency fund; there are still open questions about whether the bill needs to address back pay for federal workers; and some policymakers want to undo the federal worker layoffs conducted during the shutdown.

Impacts

• Transportation Secretary Duffy warned of significant travel disruptions in next week if the shutdown continues. Unpaid air traffic controllers and security officers are calling out sick from work, leading to staffing shortages. Without paychecks, many workers are picking up a second job to help cover their living expenses.
• More than 100 Head Start programs are in danger of closing soon or already shuttering some operations after funding didn’t come on a Saturday deadline. In October, which was the first month for the shutdown, only six programs were impacted. But for November, another 134 Head Start programs lost funding. As a result, working parents are scrambling to access child care.
• Some states, including Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York and Minnesota, have announced delays in funding for LIHEAP programs, or programs that help low-income households afford heating costs. The program services 120,000 households, both homeowners and renters, that include many older adults, young children and people with disabilities. In Maine, many warn that “people will freeze to death” if heating aid doesn’t arrive soon.

Worth Reading

A Quantitative Analysis of the Effects of the Government Shutdown on the Economy Under Three Scenarios, Congressional Budget Office, Oct. 29, 2025.

Who Is Missing Paychecks in the 2025 Shutdown—When and Where?, Bipartisan Policy Center, updated Nov. 5, 2025.

Federal Government Shutdown: What It Means for States and Programs, National Conference of State Legislatures, updated Nov. 4, 2025.

November 4: Today is Day 35 of the federal government shutdown. We are on the cusp of this becoming the longest ever government shutdown tonight at midnight.

SNAP Litigation

Yesterday, the Trump Administration reported to the federal court in Rhode Island its plans to comply with the court’s order to use contingency funds to provide SNAP benefits. While only partial SNAP benefits would be provided to households, it was an important first step. NCN also urged the Administration to use other discretionary funds to ensure every person who relies on SNAP receives their full benefits.

Today, President Trump posted on social media, threatening to not comply with the court’s order until Senate Democrats agree to reopen and fund the government. The announcement, which appears to violate the court order, comes only hours after USDA sent guidance to states instructing them on how to disseminate SNAP benefits in November.

In response, NCN president and CEO Diane Yentel issued a statement, saying “Using food assistance as a political tool is reprehensible and must not stand. The court’s order is clear – the federal government must act urgently to provide food assistance during the shutdown. The administration should immediately comply with the court order and ensure that SNAP benefits reach families, children, and seniors who cannot wait for basic and needed food security.”

Hill Updates

A growing number of Republican and Democratic policymakers in DC are eager to move forward with negotiations to end the government shutdown. At this time, those negotiations have focused on enacting a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen and fund the government – possibly through the end of the year or early 2026 – reaching an agreement about moving forward with full appropriations bills, and guaranteeing a vote on the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits. Many other Democrats, however, are urging their colleagues to hold out for an agreement to extend the healthcare tax credits, rather than merely a vote.

There is still widespread disagreement about how to address the healthcare tax credits. A small group of moderate Republicans and Democrats in the House unveiled their “principles” for any bipartisan agreement, including a two-year extension of the enhanced tax credits and an income limit on who can qualify for them, which would range from $200,000 to $400,000. The group included a call for anti-fraud measures.

There is hope that the Senate could pass a CR by the end of the week. If that happens, the House will be brought back into session to vote on the measure before it goes to the President’s desk for his signature.

November 3: Today is Day 34 of the federal government shutdown. Congress and the White House are on track for breaking the record for the longest government shutdown in history if it continues through Tuesday at midnight.

SNAP Litigation

The federal court of Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order last Friday, directing the federal government to use a $6 billion contingency fund to continue SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. 

Today, the Trump Administration informed the court that it plans to use the full contingency fund to provide partial payments to states administering SNAP. NCN issued a press statement, stating that “today’s announcement is an important first step, but it’s not enough. Millions of families, children, and seniors remain at risk of delayed or reduced food assistance. The federal government must act urgently to ensure every person who relies on SNAP receives their full benefits.”

Because of logistical delays, there will be a gap before households receive SNAP benefits. During this time, nonprofit food banks, food pantries, and other organizations will continue to step up to help address urgent needs in their communities.

Impacts

While the Administration moves to release SNAP funds, some grocery stores have offered discounts to SNAP households while they wait for their benefits. 

In response, the Trump Administration has sent letters to grocery stores, informing them they are prohibited from offering special discounts to customers affected by the SNAP funding lapse. The message states that “offering discounts or services only to SNAP paying customers is a SNAP violation unless you have a SNAP Equal Treatment waiver.” Violating grocery stores may be barred from accepting SNAP in the future; in food deserts, this could leave low-income households without any SNAP-accepting grocery store.

The Trump administration has identified $450 million to continue to fund the WIC program. The new funds are estimated to last between two to three weeks, but they may run out more quickly if additional households apply for WIC assistance while SNAP is unfunded.

October 29: Not much shifted politically on the 29^th day of the federal government shutdown. Everyone expects the shutdown to continue into November, and both parties are waiting to see what the fallout is when the shutdown continues past November 1 when funding for SNAP, WIC, and HeadStart runs out. Many Republicans believe Democrats will face enormous blowback in their districts, pushing them towards flipping their votes.

Impacts

House employees, who are paid once a month, are set to miss their first paycheck this week.

The U.S. will lose between $7B and $14B due to the shutdown, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

While most federal workers are going without pay, the Trump administration has shifted funds around to ensure paychecks for the Coast Guard, FBI, Secret Service and TSA, along with Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Food aid – known as SNAP and WIC- will be halted this weekend for millions of Americans, if the Trump administration doesn’t tap contingency funding. Senate Republicans plan to block a Democratic bill to require the administration to fund both SNAP and WIC, and to reimburse states for floating benefits during the shutdown.

October 27: Congress and the White House are just days away from a significant escalation of the government shutdown. Starting Saturday, November 1, SNAP benefits will be stopped for over 40 million people, active-service military members will miss their next paychecks, and millions of Americans will see sharp increases to their healthcare premium costs. Plus, more than 58,000 children in 134 Head Start centers across 41 states and Puerto Rico will miss out on their federal grants.

Democratic and Republican strategists and pollsters agree that the government shutdown is a growing liability for both parties, as members of Congress hear from their constituents. The changing political dynamics could push both parties towards reaching an agreement.

Several Senators are introducing legislation to blunt some of the harshest impacts of the shutdown, but none are expected to be enacted soon. Sen. Hawley (R-MO) said he may try to push forward a bill to fund SNAP for the duration of the shutdown. Sen. Cruz (R-TX) has a bill to pay air traffic controllers, and Sen. Sullivan (R-AK) has legislation to pay troops. Meanwhile, a bipartisan effort from Sen. Johnson (R-WI) and Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) to reach an agreement on legislation to pay federal workers and active-duty military is seen as having the best chance for moving forward.

Worth Reading

Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, was featured in this CNBC article about how the shutdown is harming nonprofits nationwide. As Diane explains, “Nonprofits are on the frontlines of serving communities, but a government shutdown makes it harder for them to fulfill their missions. The longer this shutdown lasts, the more people and communities are left without the critical services they depend on.”

October 24: Yesterday, the Senate failed to pass two competing bills – one from Republicans, and one from Democrats – aimed at ensuring federal workers and active-duty military members are paid on time. The Senate could vote again next week, if the two parties can bridge their differences this weekend. Sens. Johnson (R-WI), Van Hollen (D-MD) and Peters (D-MI) are reportedly working to merge their competing proposals, with the hopes of finding a compromise that can garner the support needed for enactment. A major sticking point will likely be a provision included in Van Hollen’s bill that limits the President’s ability to fire federal employees during the shutdown. 

Impacts

Congressional leaders are all looking to November 1, when open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act marketplace begins and Americans will see a significant increase in premiums, if Congress does not extend the enhanced premium tax credits that expire this year. November 1 also brings a cliff for SNAP, which will impact millions of Americans.

While advocates had been urging USDA to release contingency funds to continue SNAP benefits, the agency stated today that it cannot do so and that states won’t be reimbursed if they cover the expenses on their own. This leaves 42 million low-income people without access to SNAP benefits if Congress doesn’t agree to a deal to fund and reopen the government. Many see USDA’s announcement as yet another effort by the White House to maximize pressure on Senate Democrats.

October 23: Today, the Senate Republicans brought up for a vote a bill that would have paid some federal employees during the shutdown, including service members. The measure failed to garner the votes necessary. Democrats argued that the bill would give the president broad authority to determine who gets paid and who doesn’t. They offered their own pair of bills that would have paid all federal workers, but Republicans objected.

For the first time, the Senate will not hold a vote on the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen and fund the government through November 21. The Senate is also unlikely to hold a vote tomorrow. There is growing recognition that Nov 21 is not enough time for Congress to pass full spending bills, so Republican leaders are considering other options. Some suggest voting on a CR to keep the government open until late January, while some GOP lawmakers are even talking about a stopgap through next September or longer.

This means that the shutdown is all but guaranteed to continue. Many experts anticipate it could last through October into November.

Polls show that nearly 90 percent of Americans believe the shutdown is at least a “minor problem,” and more than half see it as a “major one,” according to an AP-NORC poll out last week.

Impacts

All eyes are on the SNAP and WIC programs, which are set to run out of funding in a matter of days.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps feed more than 40 million people, will start to run out of funds Nov. 1, USDA is warning. At least 25 states plan to cut off benefits starting on that date. There is no firm indication the Trump administration will act to patch the impending SNAP lapse. Democrats want USDA to deploy a SNAP contingency fund that currently holds about $5 billion to offset the roughly $9 billion in funding needed to cover costs for November. 

Virginia Gov. Youngkin (R) declared a state of emergency Thursday, in a move to backstop the SNAP program. Virginia and other states are scrambling to find a backup plan. Other states have said they don’t have enough money in their state budgets to make up for the billions that the federal government spends to keep the program afloat.

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is also at risk starting November 1 after the White House moved to use some tariff revenue as a backfill early in the shutdown.

October 22: This shutdown is now the second-longest in U.S. history, and there is still no solution in sight. As Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) says, neither party sees an incentive in reaching a compromise. “Both sides think there is political advantage in sticking with the positions that they have.” 

The House is still on recess, and the Senate continues to bring the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the government to the floor for a vote daily. Today, the Senate is expected to vote on the measure for the 12^th time. The bill is not expected to pass.

Currently, there are no top-level negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House. Senate Leader Schumer (D-NY) and House Leader Jeffries (D-NY) requested a meeting with the President to jumpstart negotiations on extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, but the request was denied; President Trump says he will meet with Democrats, but only after the government is reopened. In addition, 13 House Republicans sent a letter to Speaker Johnson (R-LA), urging Congress to reach a deal to extend and reform the healthcare tax credits after the government reopens.

Members of Congress are growing frustrated. Some Senate Republicans have suggested changing the filibuster rules to reduce the number of votes needed to reopen the government, despite Senate Leader Thune (R-SD)’s opposition. Both parties are working on separate, competing bills to continue pay for certain federal workers. 

Impacts

Some state agencies say they may not have the funds to reimburse schools providing free and low-cost meals. USDA released funds to regional offices for meals served in October, but some states report they have yet to receive any money.

The National WIC Association warns that emergency funds are set to run out by the end of October. States have started furloughing clinic employees and waitlisting applicants. Other states are preparing to close clinics offering nutritional and health care services and block families from using their benefits for two to four days before Nov. 1 to ensure that funding accounts are not overdrawn. Nearly 7 million low-income pregnant women, mothers, infants and children rely on WIC for nutritious foods, infant formula and health services.

The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), representing state directors of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), is urging electric and gas utilities across the nation to immediately suspend service disconnections for nonpayment until the government is reopened and LIHEAP funds can be distributed.

If the shutdown continues past November 1, 140 Headstart programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico, serving more than 65,000 children, will be forced to draw on emergency local resources to stay open.

October 21: In a sign of progress, Republican leaders are now preparing for negotiations with Democrats to reopen the government. Reports suggest that congressional leaders are discussing options with the White House over how to structure an extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which expire this year and which Democrats have made their top priority in negotiations. Republicans are also discussing internally changes they may want to advocate for in exchange for extending the tax credits, including imposing an income limit for beneficiaries, requiring individuals to pay a minimum out-of-pocket premium, or cutting off new enrollment in the program, among other ideas. 

According to reports, Republicans may offer to attach a two-year extension of the tax credits – alongside policy changes – to a larger package of bipartisan, full-year spending bills or another continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open. Senate Leader Thune (R-SD) suggested that Republicans are talking internally about whether to propose a longer-term CR to keep the government open through December, spring 2026, or for the full fiscal year. A full-year CR provides level funding for federal programs, but fails to keep up with rising costs and inflation.

Impacts

Regional SNAP directors received a warning from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, directing states to delay depositing November’s SNAP benefits on EBT cards, which people can use like a debit card to pay for food at farmers’ markets and most grocery stores. Officials in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and West Virginia issued similar warnings, saying that SNAP funds could run out in a matter of days. 

The disruption of funds could leave more than 40 million low-income people, about 1 in 8 people in the U.S., without the food assistance they need, including about 16 million children, 8 million older adults, and 4 million people with disabilities. 

Advocates are urging the White House to release SNAP’s contingency fund and give states guidance on the amount of SNAP benefits they should issue in November, as SNAP law requires, to ensure that families can put food on the table next month.

October 20: The Senate is back in town, and it will vote this evening for the 11^th time on a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen and fund the government through November 21. The Senate will also vote this week on the “Shutdown Fairness Act,” which if enacted, would ensure timely paychecks for federal employees who are required to work during the shutdown. Senate Democrats are expected to block both bills. Democrats continue to withhold their support for reopening the government until Congress and the White House agree to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that expire this year.

Impacts

• Health insurance prices for next year under the Affordable Care Act are now available in about a dozen states, including California, New York, Nevada, Maryland, and Idaho. Many Americans can now see how much their healthcare costs will increase, if Congress does not extend the tax credits.
• Democratic-led congressional districts account for 97% of $28 billion in federal funding for infrastructure projects that the Trump administration has frozen or canceled during the shutdown:
  • 87 Democratic districts have lost $27.24 billion for projects.
  • 14 Republican districts have lost $738.7 million.
• The administration has put on hold roughly $18 billion to fund a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey and an extension of the city’s Second Avenue subway. It canceled $7.6 billion in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects in 16 states.
• The U.S. Travel Association said the travel economy is expected to lose $1 billion a week as travelers change plans because national parks and historic sites are closed to visitors.
• The FAA has reported air controller shortages from airports in Boston and Philadelphia, to control centers in Atlanta and Houston. Flight delays have spread to airports in Nashville, Tennessee, Dallas, Newark, New Jersey and more.
• According to a survey, 20% of small businesses that rely on government contracts have been forced to pull back on spending to make payroll, including hiring, supplies and services. They warn that customer demand could drop amid economic uncertainty and instability.

Upcoming Dates

November 1 – The Administration says they have shifted money to keep WIC and SNAP funded, but there may still be a disruption of services.

October 20 – Senate staff miss their paychecks (don’t worry – Senators will still be paid on time!); 

October 24 – Many federal workers will miss their paychecks for work done this month;

October 31 – Military members will miss their next paycheck (although the Administration has shifted funds to make their October 15 paychecks); and

October 17: Today is Day 17 of the federal government shutdown. Both the House and Senate are out of session today, so we do not expect votes today on a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government. When the Senate returns Monday afternoon, Senate Leader Thune (R-SD) will tee up a vote on the Senate floor for later in the week on legislation to continue paying federal workers and members of the military during the shutdown. The shift in strategy comes after 10 failed votes to reopen the government, a failed vote yesterday to pass a full-year spending bill for Defense programs, and no end in sight. Frustrations are running high in the Senate!

Congressional leaders from both parties are essentially waiting for President Trump to jump into negotiations. Both parties know that negotiations cannot happen until/unless the president becomes involved.

In the meantime, the Administration is continuing its efforts to pressure Democrats. The White House is hitting pause on $11 billion in Army Corps of Engineers projects in blue cities including New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Baltimore, and it is “considering them for cancellation.” 

October 16: The Senate voted again for the 10^th time today on a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen and fund the government through Nov. 21. And for the 10^th time, the measure failed. Does it feel like Groundhog Day yet?

In a change of strategy, Senate Republicans attempted to bring a full-year defense spending bill to the floor for a vote this afternoon, in hopes to peel off some Democrats. Democrats defeated the measure, arguing that they won’t vote to enact one spending bill without a clearer understanding and agreement about how the whole government will be funded. 

After today’s votes, the Senate has adjourned until Monday afternoon, guaranteeing that the federal government will be closed for at least 20 days.

In a positive move, Senate Leader Thune (R-SD) offered Democrats to guarantee a vote on legislation to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, if Democrats agree to vote in favor of a CR to reopen the government. Thune continues to insist, however, that Republicans will not negotiate on the substance of any extension of the tax credits, which are set to expire this year, until the government is reopened. 

Democrats, meanwhile, want greater assurances that the tax credits will be extended (as opposed to only getting assurances that a vote will be held). Moderate Republican Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) said she understands Democrats’ lack of trust in these negotiations, pointing to the Trump administration’s past use of “pocket rescissions” to claw back billions in government funding that had already been approved by Congress.

A recent poll found that Americans blame Republicans and Democrats roughly equally for the shutdown. Fifty-eight percent of Americans surveyed said both Republicans in Congress and Trump are responsible for the shutdown, while 54 percent said Democrats in Congress are responsible. Those numbers split along party lines – which explains why both sides are so dug in.

After Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought threatened to fire as many as 10,000 federal employees, a federal court judge issued a temporary restraining order last night preventing the Administration from moving forward with these plans.

October 15: After eight failed votes to reopen the government, Senate Leader Thune (R-SD) is changing strategies to increase pressure on Democrats. On Thursday, the Senate will vote on the House-passed Defense spending bill. If Democrats vote in support of the bill, it could undermine their leverage in negotiations over reopening the government and extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which are set to expire this year. The move could split Democrats, who have largely remained unified in their approach so far. 

At the same time, Republican leaders are working to advance a “minibus,” a package of full-year appropriations bills for some spending areas, including Agriculture/Food and Drug Administration (Ag), Military Construction/Veterans Affairs (MILCON-VA), and the Legislative Branch. A full-year spending bill for Transportation – Housing and Urban Development (THUD) could be added as well.

To maximize pressure on Democrats, President Trump said he will announce on Friday a new rescission package should the government shutdown drag on. According to the President, “We’re closing up programs that are Democrat programs that we were opposed to,” including “the most egregious, socialist, semi communist, probably not full communist” programs. The rescission package will likely be pre-negotiated with congressional Republicans to ensure enough support for enactment. One big question is whether the rescission package will include cuts beyond programs at the U.S. Department of Education and foreign aid – which have been the targets of the past two rescission packages passed by Congress. The Senate can enact a rescission package with only 50 votes, allowing Republicans to rescind federal funds without Democratic input.

Today, a federal court will hear arguments on litigation brought by labor unions representing federal workers against the Trump Administration for its mass layoffs during the shutdown. The plaintiffs allege that there is no statutory basis for layoffs, and they are asking for a temporary restraining order. The Administration says that it might lay off as many as 10,000 federal employees.

Impacts

While things could change at any time, D.C. insiders expect the shutdown could continue through October, possibly into November.

If the shutdown continues:

November 1 – the Administration says they have shifted money to keep WIC and SNAP funded, but there may still be a disruption of services.

October 17 – many federal courts could be forced to close;

October 20 – Senate staff will miss their paychecks (don’t worry – Senators will still be paid on time!); 

October 24 – many federal workers will miss their paychecks for work done this month; and

October 31 – military members will miss their paycheck (although the Administration has shifted funds to make their October 15 paychecks).

October 14: This evening, the Senate will vote for the 8^th time on a short-term gap measure to reopen and fund the government through November 21. For the 8^th time, the measure is expected to fail to garner the 60 votes needed for enactment.

Congress and the White House are largely dug in, and they show no signs of moving off of their initial positions. There have not been any negotiations among congressional leaders since the shutdown began. Both Republicans and Democrats remain steadfast in believing that the other party will eventually cave. 

Many policymakers believed that October 15 would have been a major pressure point for negotiations. This is the date when active-duty military members were set to miss their first paycheck. Now that the Trump Administration has shifted funding around to ensure military members are paid tomorrow, however, experts warn the shutdown could drag on for weeks more.

Layoffs:

Last Friday, the White House laid off 1,000s of federal workers, as part of their effort to maximize pressure on Democrats. Now, the White House is warning that there will be more layoffs, if the shutdown continues.

Some agencies most impacted include:

• Treasury – 1,446 workers laid off, including those in the Large Business and International (LB&I) Division, which handles tax administration for domestic and foreign corporations, as well as in the Information Technology Division and the Office of Privacy, Governmental Liaison and Disclosure (PGLD).
• Health and Human Services – 600 workers laid off, including at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Education – 466 workers laid off, including nearly all of its staff at the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).
• Housing and Urban Development – 442 workers laid off, including those in the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD), which oversees grants to support low-income communities, and housing and homelessness programs.
• Commerce – 315 workers laid off.
• Energy – 187 workers laid off, many in the Office of Minority Economic Impact.     
• Homeland Security – 176 workers laid off, including those at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
• EPA – including those at the Office of Land and Emergency Management.

Impacts:

USDA has instructed regional and state directors to delay sending next month’s SNAP funds to vendors responsible for delivering benefits, because of the shutdown.

The White House says a prolonged shutdown will affect the economies of every state. White House estimates say this could cost Michigan $361 million per week in lost economic output, for example, while Florida could lose $911 million each week.

Many states are doing what they can to continue operating programs serving some of the neediest people. But states say they can only front those costs for so long — and some are worried about getting repaid, as the federal government has done in previous shutdowns.

October 10: The Senate is now on recess until Tuesday, October 14, when it will vote for the eighth time to reopen the federal government.

The White House and congressional Republicans are trying to increase pressure on Democrats to flip their votes. Administration officials announced today that it has begun to lay off a “substantial” number of federal workers. An administration official said the layoffs are hitting the U.S. Departments of Interior, Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce, Education and Energy, as well as the EPA. Labor unions representing federal workers have filed litigation. Speaker Johnson (R-LA) also shared that congressional Republicans and the White House have been working on future rescission packages to claw back federal funding approved by Congress.

At the same time, there is growing disagreement among some Republicans who take issue with Speaker Johnson’s decision to keep the House in recess next week – for the 3rd week in a row. Likewise, a bipartisan group of policymakers are calling on congressional leaders to hold a vote on a standalone bill – led by Rep. Kiggans (R-VA) – to ensure active-duty military servicemembers do not miss their paychecks on October 15. Congressional leaders oppose that proposal, though the White House says it is looking into ways to shift federal funds to ensure military members are paid on time.

The Administration has started to move federal dollars around to mitigate some of potential harms caused by the shutdown. Funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation is being shifted to allow the Essential Air Service program to continue through early November (the program helps airports remain open). USDA officials have given assurances that WIC, a critical food aid program, will get funding to help it stay afloat through October if the government shutdown continues.

October 8: Today, the government has been shut down for 8 days – with no solution in sight. Another day brought another failed vote in the Senate to reopen the government. 

As the shutdown continues, we are starting to see policymakers grow concerned about the negative impact the shutdown could have on the American people. For example, the White House says it may try to use funding from tariffs to make up the budget shortfall to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program in operation. The Administration is also considering options to shift funding around so that active service military troops continue to be paid on time (without such action, they would miss their paychecks on October 15). Some in Congress have also signaled their willingness to vote on stand-alone legislation to ensure on-time payments to troops.

Nonprofits and states are responding to the shutdown, as well. Several charitable organizations are offering loans to help military families make ends meet during the shutdown. States, like Connecticut, are preparing to invest millions to keep WIC available to moms and babies. While other states, like Arkansas, are preparing to furlough state employees funded with federal dollars.

In the meantime, TSA workers have already begun calling out sick, leading to delays at airports.

The National Council of Nonprofits created a chart with key information about the contingency plans for each federal agency. This resource provides nonprofits with key information about which agency functions are closed during the shutdown and which will remain open. It also includes information on the number of furloughed employees at each agency, and links to more resources.

October 7: As the shutdown continues, senators from both parties are trying to find a way out — largely by negotiating an agreement on whether/how to extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits and a framework for enacting final fiscal year 2026 appropriations once the shutdown ends. So far, there is no deal in sight.

President Trump is threatening to not provide back-pay to furloughed federal workers, despite federal law. The ”Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019″ was enacted after the longest-ever government shutdown, which occurred during the first Trump Administration, to ensure that furloughed workers would automatically paid back after a shutdown. The Administration claims that in order to compensate federal employees, Congress would need to pass a spending bill with specific funding for that purpose.

Speaker Johnson (R-LA) offered to bring the House back to pass emergency legislation to pay troops during the government shutdown, but Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) has rejected that idea. If active military personnel are not paid on October 15, it would put enormous pressure on Democrats to flip their vote on a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government open.

The only way to end the government shutdown is for Congress and the White House to reach a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government and allow nonprofits to continue their essential work. You can take action.

October 6: Today marks the sixth day of a federal government shutdown. After months of debate over federal spending, Congress and the White House have failed to enact a short-term spending measure to keep the government open past the start of the new fiscal year, which began on Oct. 1. Congressional Republicans are advocating for a “clean” continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open until Nov. 21, while Democrats want to include an extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year. 

The longer the shutdown continues, the greater the harm to nonprofits and their ability to provide urgently needed services to their communities. During a shutdown, non-essential federal workers must halt their work, forcing them to stop making payments, renewing contracts, awarding grants, answering questions, or providing support to nonprofit partners. When nonprofits cannot access the federal grant and contract funding they earned, an extended government shutdown can force them to take out expensive loans, adding unforeseen costs to their budget. Without reliable access to the funding needed to cover payroll and other expenses, these organizations may have no choice but to cut back on services, reduce staff, or even close their doors.

October 3: The Senate returned to D.C. today to vote again on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government. The measure is expected to fail as Democrats continue to withhold their votes in exchange for extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. Senate Leader John Thune has announced that the Senate will not meet over the weekend, so the next opportunity to vote on the CR will be Monday. Behind the scenes, a bipartisan group of Senators are trying to negotiate a deal to garner enough Democratic votes to reopen the government.

Each federal agency has published their contingency plans, outlining how the agency will function during the shutdown. Nonprofits that partner with the federal government on grants/contracts should consult the contingency plans for each federal agency with whom they do business. 

Shutdown impacts thus far:

• The federal program that provides food to low-income pregnant women, new moms and children under 5 is in jeopardy if the shutdown persists.
• Beyond the beltway, government-run libraries and museums have been disrupted, while people are “scrambling” to change their travel plans.
• An estimated 750,000 federal workers have been furloughed.
• The Administration has promised to target blue states to maximize the pressure on Democrats to flip their vote on the CR. Today, the White House announced it would suspend $2.1 billion in federal infrastructure funding for Chicago, targeting two transit modernization projects. Since the shutdown began, the Administration has withheld $18 billion in federal funds previously awarded to New York City, and cancelled $8 billion in Department of Energy green, climate-related investments to mostly blue states.
• Thousands of USDA’s Farm Service Agency offices are completely shuttered, a brutal move for farmers looking to access loans.
• More than 10,000 already-overworked air traffic controllers, who clock in up to 60 hours a week under the strained aviation system, won’t get a paycheck until the shutdown is over.

October 2: A small group of Republican and Democratic members of Congress have been discussing a possible extension of the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year. An agreement could pave the way for Congress and the White House to reach a bipartisan agreement to reopen the federal government. 

At this time, Republican Senate Leader Thune wants any agreement on healthcare tax credits to be negotiated after Congress passes a short-term funding measure, known as a continuing resolution (CR), while Democrats want an agreement to be included in a CR. Senate Republicans only need to convince four additional Democratic Senators to flip their votes to garner the 60 votes needed to pass a spending measure, after three Senate Democrats joined Republicans on a vote held yesterday. 

Both the House and Senate are out today for the Jewish high holidays. The Senate will return tomorrow to vote again on a CR.

In an effort to maximize pressure on Democrats, the White House announced it will cancel $8 billion in climate-related investments to blue states, and fired most of the advisory council members for the National Endowment for the Humanities. The White House told House Republicans to expect “consequential” layoffs.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that about 750,000 employees will be furloughed at a cost per day of $400 million.

October 1: At this time, there is no sign that congressional leaders and the White House are ready to move toward a compromise. Instead, both parties plan to hold multiple press events today to drive home their message. The House remains out on recess this week, but it will return next week. The Senate, meanwhile, plans to return to D.C. on Friday and Saturday for additional votes on short-term spending measures to reopen the government.

Two labor unions representing federal workers and other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), asking a federal judge to stop the Administration from using the government shutdown to lay off federal workers. We have heard that some federal workers have already received termination notices.

House Speaker Mike Johnson warned that “pain will be inflicted” during the shutdown, and shortly after, the Administration announced it froze federal infrastructure funds intended for Senate Democratic Leader Schumer’s and House Democratic Leader Jeffries’s district.

As of October 1, federal agencies have published their contingency plans, outlining which functions will remain open (and which will close) during the shutdown. Plans can be found here.

September 30: Congress is no closer to finding a compromise. The Senate is scheduled to vote today, Tuesday, September 30 – and has scheduled a second vote for Wednesday, October 1 after the shutdown has begun – on the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government open through November 21. Both measures are expected to fail, largely on party line votes. Both sides blame the other for the forthcoming shutdown.

The White House has doubled down on its threat to permanently fire federal workers in the event of a shutdown. President Trump warned that such firings would be “irreversible.”