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U.S. Shutdown Becomes Longest on Record as DOT Orders Flight Cuts at 40 Airports

Democrats' insistence on protecting expiring health subsidies has stalled any vote to reopen.

Overview

  • With the lapse now past 36 days, the Transportation Department directed phased capacity reductions reaching 10% at 40 major airports starting this week.
  • FAA officials report about 13,000 air-traffic controllers working without pay and warn staffing shortfalls are forcing traffic slowdowns and could trigger partial airspace closures.
  • Food assistance through SNAP has been interrupted for roughly 42 million people despite court orders, with officials signaling only partial and delayed November payments.
  • Roughly 1.4 million federal employees are furloughed or unpaid as the Senate repeatedly rejects House stopgap funding under the 60‑vote filibuster threshold.
  • President Trump and Republican leaders insist on reopening before talks on health-subsidy funding, while Democrats refuse to proceed without protections, and the CBO pegs the added economic cost at about $11 billion per week.