Government Shutdown Reaches Day 34 with No Breakthrough in Sight

Today marks the 34th day of the federal government shutdown. The Senate is in session this week while the House remains in recess. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is considering limited “rifle-shot” funding bills, narrow, single-purpose measures designed to fund specific programs such as air traffic controllers or active-duty military personnel as senators continue working through nominations. If this government shutdown extends beyond November 5, 2025, it will become the longest running shutdown in U.S. history.

Last week, the Senate failed for the 14th time to advance the House-passed clean continuing resolution, H.R. 5371. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Angus King (I-ME) again joined Republicans in support, while Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) opposed. The chamber also voted 54-45 to advance the Shutdown Fairness Act, S. 3012, which would have funded select federal employees, but it fell short of the 60 votes required.

The impacts of the shutdown are escalating as SNAP benefits lapsed on Nov. 1, Head Start programs prepare to close and emergency funds for WIC are nearly depleted. President Trump directed the Pentagon to use $8 billion in previously appropriated defense funds to cover military payrolls, supplemented by a $130 million private donation reported to have come from businessman Timothy Mellon. Despite these temporary measures, hundreds of thousands of federal employees remain furloughed or working without pay.

Senators are also discussing putting another set of long-term spending bills on the floor, though no votes have been locked in. They could advance a package bundling the Defense appropriations bill with three other spending measures: Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD and Commerce-Justice-Science.