The United States government continues to operate in a limited capacity as Congress has failed to reach an agreement on funding federal agencies, and the partial shutdown has now entered its 36th day, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to the BBC. The previous record – 35 days – occurred during Donald Trump’s first term and ended in January 2019.
On Tuesday, November 4, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the partial shutdown continues, some areas of the nation’s airspace could be temporarily closed, as approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers are currently working without pay. “If Democrats do not make a decision within a week, you will see massive chaos,” Duffy said. “Flight delays, widespread cancellations, and possibly the closure of some airspace will occur because we simply cannot manage without controllers.”
Most federal employees have been placed on indefinite unpaid leave. This is the essence of the shutdown, a term literally meaning “closure” or “disconnection.” Meanwhile, essential workers, including air traffic controllers, continue to perform their duties without pay, with back pay historically provided once the shutdown ends.
The lack of funding has also reduced support for Americans who rely on food assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). One in eight U.S. residents receives SNAP benefits, but this month only partial payments are being issued due to frozen funding. Initially, the Trump administration announced that SNAP payments would not be made in November, but a federal court required the use of reserve funds to partially fund aid for those in need. Following this ruling, Donald Trump hinted that he might not comply with the court’s order.
Earlier we wrote that U.S. Government Shutdown Could Become Longest in History as Trump Rejects Democratic Demands.
