The Effects of the Longest Government Shutdown in History
The federal government shutdown rages on as Congress still has not reached an agreement over the budget for the next fiscal year. As of November 10th, 2025, the government has been shut down for 41 days, making it the longest government shutdown in history. The country is really starting to feel the longevity of the shutdown as many federal companies and programs are struggling to continue on.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits are in danger due to the shutdown. This essential program assists one in eight people across America in getting access to food they would normally not be able to put on their table for themselves and their dependents. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that starting November 1st, benefits would no longer be issued, leaving millions without the ability to get the food they need. The Trump Administration announced on November 3rd that they would commit to partially funding SNAP benefits, but only to cover “50% of eligible households’ current allotments,” meaning all of those relying on SNAP will only receive reduced benefits throughout November.
However, two federal judges found that the Department of Agriculture could continue to assist with the funding of SNAP if they used a portion of the contingency fund. This fund, with the help of the federal government, could increase the benefits the program offers, but it is still not enough to provide benefits at its full capacity. Additionally, using this funding will leave no contingency for emergencies such as disaster relief. It is still unclear how much SNAP recipients will receive throughout November.
The shutdown has caused travel chaos, with more than 1,600 flights cancelled and thousands more delayed. This chaos is due to staffing shortages, as many of the air traffic controllers remain unpaid. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported that these staffing shortages are affecting 42 control towers and similar facilities, causing these major delays. Some of the nation’s largest airports are scrambling amidst the shutdown, including Hartsfield-Jackson (the busiest airport in America), Chicago O’Hare, Chicago Midway, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, and JFK. These delays are expected to continue through the Thanksgiving season, causing a number of Americans to miss Thanksgiving with their families.
Despite these hardships, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. On Monday, November 10th, the Senate voted to approve a funding compromise that would lead to the reopening of the federal government. The compromise has been sent to the House and must be approved to reopen the government. If passed, it would restore federal food aid and pay the thousands of federal workers that have gone without pay.
