government shutdown

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Over Two Dozen States Sue White House Over Food Stamps

They want judge to order the use of emergency reserves to keep benefits going amid shutdown

(Newser) - The prospect of 42 million Americans losing their federal food benefits because of the government shutdown is now in the hands of the courts. Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia filed suit on Tuesday, asking a federal judge to require the Trump administration to use emergency reserves to continue...

Union to Congress: End Shutdown, Pay Workers Now

Union representing 820K workers says shutdown is hurting families

(Newser) - The largest union representing federal workers is urging Congress to end the government shutdown immediately, calling it an "avoidable crisis" that has left hundreds of thousands of families in financial distress. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents around 820,000 federal and Washington, DC, government workers,...

Air Travel Disruptions Soar as Shutdown Continues

Flights were halted or slowed at major airports over the weekend because of air traffic controller shortages

(Newser) - Air traffic control staffing shortages intensified over the weekend as the government shutdown entered its fourth week. The details:
  • Flights at Los Angeles International Airport were halted temporarily on Sunday because of too few workers at a Southern California air traffic facility, reports CNN .
  • The FAA also slowed traffic at
...

SNAP Benefits Won't Go Out on Nov. 1, Administration Says

Post blames Democrats for aid being cut to more than 40M Americans

(Newser) - The Department of Agriculture has announced that SNAP benefits will not be issued on Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown. The message on the department's website blames Senate Democrats for the impasse, NBC News reports. That puts more than 40 million people on track to lose their food...

New York Times Identifies Mystery Donor to Troops

Newspaper says banking heir Timothy Mellon gave $130M to the Pentagon

(Newser) - A few days ago, reports surfaced that an anonymous donor had given the Pentagon $130 million to help pay troops during the government shutdown. Now, the New York Times has identified him: Timothy Mellon, a banking heir and railroad magnate who is a major supporter of President Trump. The president...

Illegal BASE Jumpers Head to El Capitan During Shutdown

Ranger furloughs leave visitors free to risk themselves, first responders

(Newser) - With the federal government shuttered, Yosemite National Park's usual restrictions have loosened in practice, giving thrill-seekers new opportunities. On the first day of the shutdown, climber Charles Winstead, perched on El Capitan, saw several BASE jumpers parachuting from the iconic, 3,000-foot cliff—a rare sight given the usual...

WH: There Probably Won't Be an Inflation Report Next Month

It would be first time in more than 7 decades, due to government shutdown

(Newser) - The government shutdown, now in its fourth week, likely means there won't be an inflation report next month for the first time in more than seven decades, the White House said Friday, leaving Wall Street and the Federal Reserve without crucial information about consumer prices. "Because surveyors cannot...

Anonymous Donor Gives $130M to Pay Troops During Shutdown

Legal grounds are unclear, but the gift won't go far in covering military payroll

(Newser) - The Pentagon announced Friday that it has accepted $130 million from a private, anonymous donor to go toward military pay during the government shutdown. The money was provided under the Pentagon's "general gift acceptance authority" and is intended to help cover the salaries and benefits of service members,...

Senator Wraps Up Speech After More Than 22 Hours

'I am standing here to ring the alarm bells,' Merkley said during marathon speech

(Newser) - Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon launched a marathon speech on the Senate floor Tuesday night, warning that President Trump's actions pose "grave threats" to American democracy. The Democrat began speaking at 6:21pm Eastern and wrapped it up almost 23 hours later at around 5pm Wednesday. He used...

Trump Declares Gun Regulators 'Essential' Amid Shutdown

Gun lobby pressure opens door for sales of restricted firearms like vintage machine guns

(Newser) - During one of the longest government shutdowns in US history, a pause on sales of some of the nation's most tightly regulated firearms has ended, thanks to relentless lobbying from the gun industry and Republican lawmakers. The Trump administration has now classified federal firearms examiners as "essential" workers,...

At the FAA, It's Like an Extended 'Drought'

Already-stressed air traffic controllers are seeing staffing shortages as shutdown drags on

(Newser) - As the government shutdown drags on, air travelers at major US airports are experiencing delays due to ongoing staffing problems at the Federal Aviation Administration. According to the FAA, air traffic control worker shortages on Sunday night caused delays at airports in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Newark, New Jersey, per...

Trump's Military Pay Strategy Worries Both Parties

President bypassed Congress, and the precedent has some Republicans worried, too

(Newser) - President Trump sidestepped Congress to ensure military paychecks go out during the government shutdown, and Politico reports that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are a little worried about how he went about it. Last week, Trump authorized the Pentagon and the White House budget office to use any...

This Now the Third-Longest Shutdown in History

Nov. 1 might be a pivotal day

(Newser) - The government shutdown entered its 20th day on Monday, making it the third-longest in US history, reports NBC News . Only the shutdowns of 2018-2019 (35 days) and 1995-96 (21 days) lasted longer, and Punchbowl News notes that those were partial shutdowns in comparison to the current full shutdown. It's...

Effects of Shutdown Reach Supreme Court

Building will be closed to public as funding runs out, while federal courts face furloughs

(Newser) - The Supreme Court announced that its funding is running out this weekend because of the government shutdown. "If new appropriated funds do not become available, the Court will make changes in its operations to comply with the Anti Deficiency Act," spokesperson Patricia McCabe said, referring to the law...

If Shutdown Persists, Millions Could Lose Food Stamps

Benefits could be delayed, reduced, or stopped as federal funds dwindle for SNAP

(Newser) - If the government shutdown drags into November, roughly 42 million Americans could see their food stamp benefits delayed, reduced, or stopped, the New York Times reports. The warning comes from the Agriculture Department, which USA Today reports told state agencies in a letter dated Oct. 10 that it expects to...

Senate Is Now 0 for 10 on Shutdown Votes

There's no end in sight after Thursday's 51-45 vote

(Newser) - Senate Democrats rejected for the 10th time Thursday a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government, insisting they won't back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits. The vote failed Thursday morning on a 51-45 vote, well short of the 60 needed to advance with...

Judge Blocks Trump's Government Shutdown Layoffs

She says move has a 'human cost that cannot be tolerated'

(Newser) - President Trump's administration for now must stop firing workers during the government shutdown, a federal judge in San Francisco ordered on Wednesday. US District Judge Susan Illston issued the emergency order after federal agencies on Friday started issuing layoff notices aimed at reducing the size of the federal government....

Johnson: This Shutdown Could Be the Longest One Ever

House speaker says he won't negotiate with Democrats until they drop demands

(Newser) - House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted Monday the federal government shutdown may become the longest in history, saying he "won't negotiate" with Democrats until they hit pause on their health care demands and reopen, the AP reports. Standing alone at the Capitol on the 13th day of the shutdown,...

Airports Pass on Video of Noem Blaming Delays on Democrats

Officials say political message seems to violate Hatch Act

(Newser) - Airports serving several major US cities have declined to run a video in their terminals in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames congressional Democrats for the government shutdown and resulting travel disruptions . Local officials cited internal policies and laws including the federal Hatch Act and state regulations that...

Trump Orders Troops Be Paid Despite Shutdown

Post that administration has 'identified funds to do this'

(Newser) - President Trump said on Saturday that he has ordered military personnel to be paid despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote in part:
  • "I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War,
...

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