The US government is in its second-longest shutdown, with the current 2025 crisis on the brink of surpassing the record set by the 2018-2019 shutdown. This crisis comes after Congress failed to pass a bill to fund the government on a temporary basis, leaving many government services and programs at risk.
The Senate has been holding repeated votes to end the shutdown, with 13 attempts so far, but Republicans have not secured enough support from Democrats to move forward. The current stalemate is rooted in the party's disagreement over funding for various programs, including food stamps, which would cut off benefits to around 42 million Americans on November 1.
According to data from the USDA, approximately $9.2 billion would be needed to fund SNAP benefits for November, with a contingency fund of around $5 billion. However, some lawmakers have called for standalone legislation to address this issue.
Meanwhile, government workers are feeling the pinch, with at least 670,000 employees furloughed since the shutdown began and another 730,000 working without pay. The administration has also attempted to lay off over 4,000 federal employees during the shutdown.
President Trump's claim of a private donation to help pay for troops' salaries is questionable, as it would likely only cover around $100 per person for 1.3 million active-duty service members.
The economic impact of the shutdown is significant, with estimates suggesting that the nation's GDP could drop by billions of dollars if the crisis drags on for an extended period.
				
			The Senate has been holding repeated votes to end the shutdown, with 13 attempts so far, but Republicans have not secured enough support from Democrats to move forward. The current stalemate is rooted in the party's disagreement over funding for various programs, including food stamps, which would cut off benefits to around 42 million Americans on November 1.
According to data from the USDA, approximately $9.2 billion would be needed to fund SNAP benefits for November, with a contingency fund of around $5 billion. However, some lawmakers have called for standalone legislation to address this issue.
Meanwhile, government workers are feeling the pinch, with at least 670,000 employees furloughed since the shutdown began and another 730,000 working without pay. The administration has also attempted to lay off over 4,000 federal employees during the shutdown.
President Trump's claim of a private donation to help pay for troops' salaries is questionable, as it would likely only cover around $100 per person for 1.3 million active-duty service members.
The economic impact of the shutdown is significant, with estimates suggesting that the nation's GDP could drop by billions of dollars if the crisis drags on for an extended period.