By: Key Jones-Ford
The United States (US) Government has been shut down for over 40 days, officially marking it as the longest shutdown in US history. However, a key Senate vote takes a step toward reopening it.
The government first shut down on Oct. 1 at midnight due to disagreements among U.S. senators over the 2026 budget. The government’s reopening remained in limbo, as more agencies moved to lay off more workers.
CNN reported on Nov. 9 that the Senate reached a bipartisan agreement to fund the government through Jan. 31. The deal would reverse the firing of federal employees, fund SNAP into 2026, and prevent damage in future shutdowns. The deal does not include an extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which subsidizes health insurance costs for low-income individuals and families. However, the deal exchanges the government’s reopening for a later date to vote on the ACA.
CNN reports that democratic senators Dick Durbin, Jacky Rosen, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, and independent senator Angus King have signaled they would vote “yes” on the deal to end the shutdown.
The decision of these eight senators was met with frustration from other members of the Democratic Party. In the face of the party’s election victories, this move is seen as a betrayal. Some are blaming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for the decision. “Chuck Schumer should step down as Senate Minority Leader immediately,” Joseph Geevarghese, executive director of political action organization Our Revolution, said in a statement to USA Today. “If he secretly backed this surrender and voted ‘no’ to save face, he’s a liar.”
The shutdown has led to several delays and changes across the country. Most recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a reduction in air traffic. According to NPR, the move orders a cut of consumer flights and cargo flights from 40 major airports. The list includes all four of New York’s major airports.
The FAA is one of several federal agencies that have been working without pay since the shutdown began. The move was an attempt to cut costs for the agency, but it will result in travel delays for several passengers.
As a result, airlines have announced all cancelled flights. United Airlines has issued a list on its website of all affected flights, going up to Tuesday, Nov. 11.
“Even with these schedule reductions, we expect to offer about 4,000 flights per day,” their statement reads. “And because of the early November timing, our flights have more available seats than during the summer, giving you more rebooking options.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the shutdown ending today would not result in flights immediately returning to normal in time for the busiest travel season. While the FAA has only cut about 4 percent of flights, Duffy has raised the possibility that the number could rise to 20 percent during an interview with Fox News.
In the House of Representatives, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has kept the House on a month-long recess. This has prevented the swearing-in of the newly elected Arizona representative Adelita Grijalva.
According to The New York Times, she has since sued Speaker Johnson, claiming that if she “[…] was a Republican, [she] would be sworn in already.”
One of the primary worries amidst the shutdown was the continuation of fund distribution for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The federally funded program provides benefits to low-income Americans for groceries, but the shutdown has halted funding temporarily, leaving several recipients without benefits.
“I’ve been overdrafting my card, and when my check finally hit, I was left with just enough to pay my phone bill,” said Claude Pearson, a former college student who relies on SNAP for groceries. “At least when I’m at work I can get food, but I’m scared for the rest of this year.”
Pearson is not alone in his worries, as the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities reports that roughly 41 million Americans received SNAP benefits in 2024. There has additionally been conflicting information on the distribution of funds state-wise. The uncertainty in travel and benefits leaves many anxious, especially as the holiday season approaches and food shopping is done for large gatherings.
Furloughed workers, those forced on a leave of absence without pay, have also seen their livelihoods strained due to the shutdown. Roughly half of the IRS employees were furloughed, with Kylesha Kea being among them.
Kea worked as a revenue agent in the determinations unit and was in the middle of training for her department when the shutdown began.
“I assume that any applications that organizations submitted will have to be put on hold since we can’t work on them,” Kea told the Vanguard. She added that, while furloughed, employees cannot work voluntarily.
Kea is among several IRS workers looking for other work as the shutdown continues, but job searching has not been easy.
“I’m sure most people from the IRS and other government agencies that were furloughed are also possibly looking, therefore I am competing with them. Living in NYC is expensive, and being without income can be annoying.”
Kea has also advised those needing the IRS to stay up to date with their website to see which services are still available.
“There are limited customer service representatives at the moment, so we do ask that you [have patience] with them during this time, as they are most likely working overtime to help out the taxpayers.”
With a 60-40 vote, the deal proposed in the Senate was agreed upon, according to CNN’s live coverage. This does not mean the government will immediately reopen; any senator can delay consideration of the package.
Additionally, the package must pass through the House when it returns from recess, along with confirming the swearing in of Congresswoman Grijalva. While the shutdown is not officially over, an end is in sight. Regardless, the shutdown’s damage has been done and must be dealt with accordingly once it ends, especially as the country enters 2026 with mid-term elections around the corner.