As the US government shutdown drags into its fourth week, millions of Americans are facing the threat of losing food assistance, and air traffic controllers are preparing to miss their first paychecks.
The Department of Agriculture says Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will stop on November 1, warning that “the well has run dry, ABC news reported.
SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, provides support to about 42 million low-income Americans. The program is federally funded but administered by states, meaning the shutdown’s effects will vary across the country.
Will Medicare and Medicaid be affected by the government shutdown?
For now, beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid should still be able to access medical care without disruption. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed that both programs will continue operating during the shutdown, with Medicaid funding secured through the end of the year, US Today reported.
However, experts caution that prolonged gridlock could cause ripple effects. If the shutdown stretches on, doctors, hospitals, and other health providers may begin to experience delays in reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid — potentially straining operations and patient services over time.
US shutdown affects air travel
Air travel chaos worsened across the US on Monday as the government shutdown entered its 27th day, with more than 5,600 flights delayed nationwide amid a surge in air traffic controller absences.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) blamed staffing shortages for widespread disruptions, implementing ground delay programs at Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, Austin-Bergstrom in Texas, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Earlier in the day, flights in the Southeast were also affected by shortages at the Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control.
Around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have been working without pay since the shutdown began, after a funding standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats, as per Reuters.
Officials have warned that delays and cancellations could worsen as air traffic controllers miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday. On Sunday alone, more than 8,800 flights were delayed nationwide.
Secretary of transport department Sean Duffy said that air traffic controllers will stop getting paid starting October 28.
In a post on X, he said, "Air traffic controllers will stop getting paid starting TOMORROW. This is not ok! I just visited several of them at @goingplacesCLE and they are worried about paying their mortgage. @SenSchumer and @RepJeffries
you’ve got to do better!"
Will lawmakers make peace for Americans
As the shutdown continues to impact Americans and key deadlines loom, all eyes are on Capitol Hill where lawmakers are still in a stalemate.
And it seems that President Donald Trump and Democrats are in the negotiating terms, according to the ABC news.
Over the weekend, the Trump administration said it will not extend additional funding for SNAP, blaming Democrats for the continued stalemate. The position marks a reversal from a contingency plan published by USDA in September, which suggested that multi-year funds could sustain operations during a shutdown.
Democrats are blasting President Donald Trump for refusing to tap into contingency funds to keep food aid flowing during the government shutdown.
In a joint statement Friday, Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Angie Craig called the move “perhaps the most cruel and unlawful offense the Trump administration has perpetrated yet.”
They also accused Trump of misplaced priorities — pointing to his decision to provide financial assistance to Argentina and fund a new White House ballroom even as millions of Americans face losing access to food assistance.
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