It’s been weeks of little progress in the efforts to resolve the government shutdown, and senators are now dedicating their first weekend to urgent talks since this crisis began.
In a typical week, they would have returned to their home states at the week’s end. However, this crucial routine has been halted for more than a month as the impasse over funding—now the longest on record—affects the lives of millions of Americans in a detrimental way.
Frustration is mounting among lawmakers as the shutdown continues, leading to significant reductions in flights and increasing food security issues for countless families. Meanwhile, many federal employees have gone without pay for nearly 40 days.
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President Donald Trump shared his thoughts on the deadlock Friday, encouraging legislators to remain in DC until they can work out a solution to the shutdown. In his Truth Social post, he stated, “The United States Senate should not leave town until they have a Deal to end the Democrat Shutdown.”
In what seems to be a move toward compromise, on Friday, Democrats proposed a short-term funding plan to Republicans, one that likely would keep the government operating into next year while extending health care subsidies through Obamacare for another year.
“All Republicans need to do is agree,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, commented on the announcement. However, Republicans chose to turn down the offer, ensuring that the shutdown will likely stretch into the following week.
On Friday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, voiced his opinion on the situation, voicing fatigue over the ongoing political wrangling.
“I am tired of political games,” he expressed.
When asked if a new proposal aimed at resolving the shutdown could be forged by Saturday, Thune remained cautiously optimistic but said it was uncertain. Senator Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, mentioned that a vote in the Senate would take place Saturday afternoon.
MTG Travels by Train Due to Flight Issues
Because of ongoing flight cancellations and delays linked to the shutdown, GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene decided to take the train back to her home state of Georgia. She tweeted about her journey, citing “flight delays and cancellations” as the reason for her train travel.
“Due to flight delays, I took the Amtrak from DC to Georgia,” she posted on X, including a scenic video of the northern Georgia mountains.
Food Insecurity for Millions on SNAP
For tens of millions of Americans who depend on SNAP benefits, the disbursement delays are causing serious concerns over hunger. SNAP recipients are feeling the impact acutely.
“I don’t get how they expect us to survive,” said 47-year-old Tonya LaFarr from Des Moines, Iowa, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
While some funds have reached states, distributions for November have been hampered by erroneous details provided by the USDA, per Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell.
SNAP benefits qualify households making 130% or less of the federal poverty level, which for a three-person household means earning $2,888 or less per month.
Another Failed Bill to Pay Federal Workers
In the evening on Friday, senators dismissed yet another proposal intended to ensure pay for federal workers during the shutdown.
This bill, introduced by Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and supported by the American Federation of Government Employees, faced a narrow defeat with a vote tally of 53-43. Notably, several Democrats, including Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff from Georgia, deviated from party lines to back the proposal.
This division reflects a growing concern within the political sphere regarding the ongoing shutdown.
Full SNAP Benefits for November to be Provided
The Trump administration announced its commitment to adhering to a federal judge’s ruling to provide full SNAP benefits for the month of November to approximately 42 million recipients. This revelation was included in a memo from the Department of Agriculture released on Friday.
In the memo, the department declared that it is “working toward implementing November 2025 full benefit issuances.” The memo also noted that the full SNAP funds would be made accessible shortly.
This development follows a ruling from Rhode Island federal Judge John McConnell during a hearing on November 6, where he criticized the inadequate pace of fund releases.
– Joey Garrison
This article was originally published by USA TODAY: Senators negotiate over shutdown as furor grows over flight cuts, SNAP. Live updates
