Overview
- The closure reached day 28 on Tuesday with pay and services strained, including SNAP benefits projected to run out on Nov. 1.
- Senate Chaplain Barry Black opened Monday’s session with a pointed prayer, telling lawmakers that “no gold medals are given for breaking shutdown records.”
- The Senate halted further action after roughly a dozen failed attempts to advance the House-passed short-term funding bill.
- Democrats are withholding the needed votes unless the measure renews Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to lapse at year’s end, a condition Republicans reject.
- The federal employees’ union AFGE urged an immediate clean continuing resolution, while GOP leaders discussed standalone moves to fund SNAP and certain paychecks that may still meet Democratic resistance.