USDA orders states to stop issuing full SNAP benefits and “undo” benefits sent Starting From

The Senate has taken a major step toward reopening the government after weeks of a shutdown. Lawmakers voted 60 to 40 to move forward on a plan that came together after eight moderate Democrats struck a deal with Republican leaders and the White House. The agreement would reopen the government in exchange for a promise to hold a future vote on extending extra health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

Even with this progress, the government isn’t open yet. Any single senator could still slow down the process for several days. The House of Representatives also has to return to Washington to approve the same deal before it can be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.

Meanwhile, the shutdown is causing serious problems across the country. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air travel could “drop to almost nothing” as Thanksgiving approaches, just a few weeks away. Airports are already seeing long delays and cancellations because of staffing shortages. The Department of Agriculture also told states to stop issuing full food stamp benefits after the Supreme Court paused a lower court order that had required the agency to pay 42 million Americans their full assistance this month. This means millions of families are unsure if they will get enough help to buy food.

At airports nationwide, travel is getting messier by the day. Flights at Newark Airport were delayed by more than two hours on average Sunday morning, and more than 1,000 flights were canceled across the U.S. Airlines have started cutting flights at the country’s busiest airports by about 4%, and that number could grow to 15–20% if the shutdown continues. Many travelers are being forced to rebook, cancel trips, or spend long hours waiting in terminals. Some air traffic control centers and towers are short-staffed, which is slowing down flights to keep things safe.

Transportation workers and other federal employees are protesting their working conditions. FAA workers in Phoenix, Arizona, demonstrated outside the airport, saying they’ve been working without pay for more than a month and warning that flight safety could be at risk if conditions don’t improve.

The Environmental Protection Agency says it will have to furlough more employees by November 21 if the shutdown continues, affecting environmental protection efforts nationwide.

In Pennsylvania, one father, AJ Owen, decided to take action to help his community. With many people worried about losing food benefits, he set up a small food pantry in his front yard with his kids. The family started by donating their own food, and soon neighbors and even members of the Pittsburgh Steelers joined in to help.

President Trump spent the weekend in Florida and is returning to Washington today. Earlier, he defended his tariff policies online, calling critics “fools” and promising $2,000 rebate checks for Americans. Economists warn that combining tariffs with cash payouts could make inflation worse, but Trump insists it will strengthen the economy.

Lawmakers are still divided on how to end the shutdown. Democratic leaders like Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer support reopening the government while continuing to negotiate over healthcare subsidies. They’ve accused Republicans of not bargaining honestly. Jeffries urged Trump to stop golfing and focus on resolving the crisis before Thanksgiving.

As the shutdown drags on, Americans are growing frustrated and anxious. Travelers are stuck, workers are missing paychecks, and millions of families are unsure how they’ll buy food. For now, all eyes are on Congress to see whether this latest Senate vote will finally bring an end to the gridlock in Washington.