Overview
- Two federal judges ordered the administration to release emergency SNAP funds, and magistrates authorized use of a reported $5 billion contingency pool, with officials unsure the money will cover full benefits.
- Roughly 42 to 43.5 million people who rely on SNAP could face delays or partial payments despite the court interventions.
- Air travel disruptions are mounting due to unpaid air traffic controllers, with New York City officials reporting Newark arrivals limited and average delays around two hours and warning of a possible ground stop.
- About 800,000 federal employees remain unpaid as the shutdown reaches roughly day 33 and threatens to surpass the 35-day record from 2018–2019.
- President Trump is pressing Senate Republicans to scrap the filibuster to reopen the government, GOP leaders continue to resist, and Democrats hold firm on extending enhanced ACA subsidies as limited bipartisan talks proceed.