U.S. shutdown reaches day 39; Senate works weekend as Trump resists ACA subsidy extension
On day 39 of the partial U.S. government shutdown, the Senate held a rare weekend session as bipartisan leaders pushed a package to reopen parts of the government and address expiring ACA premium‑subsidy tax credits. President Trump publicly resisted extending the subsidies — proposing alternatives and threatening to withhold or restrict SNAP payments despite court orders — while Republicans remained short of the votes needed and moderate Democrats floated reopening now in exchange for a later vote on subsidies.
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📌 Key Facts
- The Senate held a rare weekend session as bipartisan negotiations, with leadership’s blessing, intensified to reopen the government and address expiring ACA subsidies; Majority Leader John Thune kept the chamber in session and readied a bipartisan package for a test vote as soon as possible.
- Democrats have repeatedly voted against reopening without an extension of expiring ACA subsidies (14 votes); Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer offered a one‑year extension — backed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar — which Senate Republicans publicly rejected as effectively a costly ($35 billion) payment to insurers with inadequate fraud controls.
- President Trump has resisted extending ACA tax credits, publicly rejecting Democrats’ demand and proposing direct payments instead; he urged ending the filibuster to pass funding by simple majority, but Republican leaders say there aren’t enough votes to do so.
- Trump and the administration have restricted SNAP food aid despite court orders, with Trump threatening to halt SNAP payments unless Democrats reopen the government; plaintiffs filed to compel full benefits, a judge scheduled a hearing, and USDA warned administrative hurdles could delay partial payments by months.
- Negotiators are discussing piecemeal funding measures that would reopen specific areas (food aid, veterans programs, the legislative branch) while extending overall government funding only temporarily — with proposals ranging from a Nov. 21 stopgap to extensions into December or January.
- Moderate Democrats led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen have explored a deal to reopen the government now in exchange for only a promise of a later vote on ACA subsidies (not a guarantee), while some Republicans say they might accept subsidy extensions with tighter eligibility limits.
- Republican leaders remain roughly five votes short of passage; a bloc of about 10–12 moderate Democrats is pivotal to any deal and could determine whether narrowly tailored or broader measures advance.
- The shutdown became the longest on record (reaching Day 36 in these reports) and its fallout widened — including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning of potential U.S. air‑travel chaos if controllers miss another paycheck.
📚 Contextual Background
- A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass appropriations bills or a continuing resolution to fund federal agencies, causing many federal services to pause and some employees to be furloughed.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers SNAP benefits and is responsible for issuing benefit payments.
- SNAP benefits are distributed electronically through state Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems and vendors.
- Federal SNAP proration rules specify that when benefits are prorated the maximum benefit amount is reduced by 35% and households of the same size have their benefits reduced by the same dollar amount.
- In 2024, SNAP provided assistance to about 41 million people, nearly two-thirds of whom were families with children.
📰 Sources (7)
Trump signals no shutdown compromise with Democrats as senators hold a rare weekend session
New information:
- Senate holds a rare weekend session for the first time since the shutdown began to seek a bipartisan resolution.
- President Trump publicly rejects Democrats’ demand to extend ACA tax credits, suggesting direct payments instead.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Trump's proposal won’t be part of an immediate solution but keeps Senate in session until shutdown ends, aiming for a vote as soon as possible.
- Moderate Democrats, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, float a plan to reopen government now with only a promise of a later vote on ACA subsidies, not a guarantee.
- Talks include funding select parts of government (food aid, veterans programs, legislative branch) and extending the rest into December or January.
- Republican leaders need approximately five more votes; the moderate Democratic group has ranged from 10–12 senators.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson declines to commit to a future health care vote; some Republicans open to subsidy extensions but with tighter eligibility limits.
Longest government shutdown in history continues as Klobuchar stands by Schumer plan
New information:
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer offered to end the shutdown if Republicans back a one-year extension of ACA subsidies.
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar backed Schumer’s offer on the Senate floor, calling it 'a practical plan.'
- Senate Republicans publicly rejected the offer, framing it as '$35 billion next year to insurance companies' with 'no fraud controls.'
- A potential 15th Senate vote on the GOP CR was uncertain as of Friday, with talk of amending it to extend funding into January.
- President Trump urged ending the Senate filibuster to pass funding with a simple majority; Majority Leader John Thune said there aren’t enough votes to do so.
Democrats consider prolonging the shutdown as Republicans prepare new bills without health care fix
New information:
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune kept the Senate in session and readied a bipartisan package for a test vote as soon as Friday.
- The proposal would fund specific areas (food aid, veterans programs, the legislative branch) and extend overall government funding only until Nov. 21.
- Democrats have voted 14 times against reopening without an extension of expiring ACA subsidies; Republicans remain about five votes short.
- Moderate Democrats, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, have explored a deal to reopen now in exchange for a future vote on health‑care subsidies.
- Trump urged Republicans to end the shutdown, calling it a 'negative' factor for the GOP in recent elections.
Government shutdown becomes the longest on record as fallout spreads nationwide
New information:
- The shutdown reached Day 36, becoming the longest on record.
- No talks scheduled with Democrats; Trump refusing to negotiate on expiring health-insurance subsidies until government reopens.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of potential chaos in U.S. air travel next week if controllers miss another paycheck.
- AP reports the administration restricted SNAP food aid despite court orders intended to ensure funds are available.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it the 'most severe shutdown on record' and said 'Shutdowns are stupid.'
- Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar urged negotiations in a late-evening floor speech.
A defiant Trump vows no SNAP payments until Democrats cave on shutdown
New information:
- Specific Trump post stating no SNAP payments until Democrats reopen government.
- White House press secretary’s statement that the administration is complying with the court order.
- Plaintiffs’ filing to compel full benefits and proposal to use the child‑nutrition account to cover November SNAP.
- Judge McConnell scheduled a Thursday hearing and ordered a government response.
- USDA cited administrative hurdles that could delay partial payments by months.
Talks to end the government shutdown intensify as federal closure is on track to become longest ever
New information:
- Bipartisan Senate negotiations are underway with leadership’s blessing to reopen government and address expiring health‑insurance subsidies.
- The shutdown reached Day 35 on Nov. 4 and is on track to become the longest ever after midnight.
- Senate Democrats rejected a temporary funding bill in a test vote on Tuesday.
- President Trump threatened to halt SNAP benefits unless Democrats agree to reopen the government, potentially defying court orders releasing contingency funds.
- Elections on Tuesday are seen as an inflection point; House Speaker Mike Johnson previously sent the House home in September, shifting focus to the Senate.