Shutdown Update
At press time, the United States government has been shut down for 37 days. It’s the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The previous record was 35 days.
The shutdown began on October 1 (see “TFK Explains: Government Shutdown”). During a shutdown, parts of the government close. They stay closed until Congress approves a budget. Lawmakers have been unable to agree on a budget.
Some programs cannot get full funding during a shutdown. One is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It provides food aid to more than 40 million Americans. The shutdown may affect that aid.
Some federal workers are required to work without pay during a shutdown. These include air-traffic controllers. They’re under “stress and fatigue,” the Federal Aviation Administration wrote on social media on October 31. It noted that many are absent from work. This has led to travel delays.
TRAVEL WOES On October 30, the security area at an airport in Florida stands empty after shutdown-related delays.
MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO—GETTY IMAGESSome states held elections on November 4. These went on as normal, despite the shutdown.
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