Democrats in the Senate opposed the Republican appropriations bill because it did not include an extension of expanded Affordable Care Act subsidies that were scheduled to expire in November 2025.[a] The bipartisan agreement that ended the shutdown put the matter up to a vote in December.[10][11]
The failure of Congress to agree on funding legislation leads to a government shutdown when the previous funding term ends.[12]:28-29 In a government shutdown, federal agencies continue work categorized as "essential", but federal employees and contractors are furloughed and not immediately paid. The authority to determine the work that continues is vested in the director of the Office of Management and Budget, although the president has broad authority over this process.[14]
Ahead of a lapse of government funding expected to occur in March 2025, Democrats in Congress largely objected to funding the government as President Donald Trump moved to assume control of the extent of its operations, including eliminating federal funding and dismissing government workers. Hours before the deadline, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer announced that he would support a continuing resolution to fund the government through September, arguing that Trump's efforts were being halted in the courts—which could be impeded by a shutdown; that a shutdown would give greater authority to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE); and that market uncertainty would mount over a shutdown in addition to imminent widespread tariffs, causing ambiguity over the responsibility of economic fear.[15] Schumer's support incited other Democrats to vote in favor of a temporary continuing resolution proposed by Republicans, allowing the measure to pass and averting a shutdown. Schumer was criticized by several Democrats for his move, including House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries.[16]
Affordable Care Act subsidies
Passed in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a major reform of the U.S. healthcare system that, among other provisions, established income-based tax credits to subsidize the cost of health insurance.[17] For eligible households, subsidies reduced the cost of insurance premiums to between 2.07% and 9.38% of income.[18] Households earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level were ineligible for subsidies, creating a steep welfare cliff.[19]
In 2025, Congress allowed the expanded subsidies to expire and made additional cuts to the medical welfare system under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.[23] Contention over these changes became a major conflict leading to the government shutdown.[24]
Budget discussions
Initial passages and emerging conflicts
The continuing resolution Republicans passed set a deadline through the remainder of that year's fiscal budget term, expected to conclude at the end of September. In July, Republicans approved the Trump administration's request to rescind $9 billion allocated for foreign aid and public broadcasting. Washington senator Patty Murray, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, told The New York Times that the "partisan rescissions bill" complicated efforts for Democrats to work with Republicans on a funding bill for the next year's budget, set to begin in October. That month, senators opened debate on a series of appropriations bills, beginning with military construction projects and veterans programs. Democrats indicated that they would seek to avert a shutdown in budget discussions.[15] In July, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought said, "The appropriations process has to be less bipartisan", adding that the White House would not abide by bipartisan spending agreements and that he believed the Impoundment Control Act was unconstitutional. The remarks drew condemnation from Democrats and pushback from Senate Majority Leader John Thune.[25]
By August, the Senate approved an initial set of spending bills, including $433 billion for veterans programs, $19.8 billion for military construction and family housing projects, $27.1 billion for agricultural programs, and $7.1 billion to continue the operations of Congress and legislative agencies.[26] Although the bills passed before an anticipated recess that month for the first time since 2018, objections mounted, indicating further resistance ahead of the deadline. Louisiana senator John Kennedy unsuccessfully sought a two percent reduction in the agriculture bill. He later called for a separate vote on the legislative branch funding bill to state his opposition to the funding level. A fourth bill that would have funded the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, and science agencies faltered after opposition from Maryland senator Chris Van Hollen. The legislative branch funding bill largely kept the Government Accountability Office's funding levels consistent, despite the agency's conflict with the Trump administration; the House of Representatives's bill halved the office's budget.[26] In September, House speaker Mike Johnson and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries discussed extending government funding into November or December.[27] A continuing resolution emerged as a likely way to resolve the impasse, though the cession of Congress's authority to determine spending concerned several Democrats.[28]
Impasse and deadlock
The Trump administration, along with several fiscal hawks, advocated for funding the government through January. Conversely, Democrats and some Republicans sought a deal through November to ensure additional time for a compromise. The administration's move to cancel almost $5 billion in foreign aid through a pocket rescission intensified the impasse. House and Senate appropriators suggested a bill to fund the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and congressional operations for a year with a short-term extension for other agencies.[29] Representative Andy Harris, the chair of the Freedom Caucus, expressed reluctant support for a temporary bill proposed by Representative Tom Cole, the chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, so long as Cole had the votes.[30] The discussions collided with the Trump administration's request to bolster security for Supreme Court justices and increase funding for the Marshals Service after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.[31] Lower-court judges also sought security of their own.[32]
Democrats sought to force Republicans to extend healthcare insurance subsidies, set to expire at the end of the year.[33] Trump publicly told Republicans not to "bother dealing with them"[34] and to support Cole's "clean" continuing resolution;[35] additional funding for lawmakers after Charlie Kirk's death delayed the bill's release.[30] On September16, Johnson released the spending bill without insurance subsidies, expecting Democrats to balk and cause a shutdown or to support a bill that retained the status quo, increasing health insurance premiums for Affordable Care Act recipients.[36] Representatives Thomas Massie and Victoria Spartz and Senator Rand Paul, all fiscally conservative Republicans, opposed the bill over its spending additions and a narrow timeline for a larger appropriations bill.[37]
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Republican, also initially opposed the bill because she believed it could not pass the Senate.[38] Democrats opposed the bill[39] and made a counteroffer to increase health spending by $1 trillion.[40] The Republican plan passed the House on September19 but failed in the Senate, with 44voting in favor to 48 against. John Fetterman was the only Senate Democrat to vote for the plan, while two Republicans voted against it. The same day, the Democratic plan failed in the Senate on party lines, by a vote of 47 to 45.[41]
Schumer and Jeffries requested a meeting with Trump after the votes failed.[42] Trump abruptly canceled the meeting, calling their demands "unserious",[43] but met with the Democrats, joined by Johnson and Thune, in the Oval Office one day before the deadline;[44] the meeting was Jeffries's first with Trump and Trump's first invitation of Democrats to the White House in his second term.[44] The meeting did not yield an agreement.
At 7:31p.m.EDT, hours after the meeting, Trump posted an AI-generated video on Truth Social[45] of Chuck Schumer (in a faux speech voice-over) denigrating immigrants and calling the Democrats "woke pieces of shit" to mock[46] the Democratic base,[47] with Jeffries at his side wearing a cartoonish sombrero and a handlebar mustache while the Mexican hat dance played in the background.[b] The Republican messaging also included JD Vance averring that he believed a shutdown was imminent, with the Democrats to blame.[53]
On September30, 2025, hours before the shutdown began, the Senate voted again on the Democratic and Republican plans. The Democratic plan again failed on party lines (47 in favor, 53 against).[54] All Republicans except Rand Paul, along with Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto and John Fetterman, as well as Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, voted for the plan, which thus failed 51–47. Despite receiving a majority of votes in the Senate, the Republican plan failed to pass because it could not overcome a 60-vote filibuster. After the votes, the Office of Management and Budget directed agencies to execute their shutdown plans.[55]
Use of rescissions had been dormant since Bill Clinton's presidency,[62] but in early 2025 Trump's Department of Government Efficiency made large cuts to appropriated parts of the federal government, including reducing foreign aid and public broadcasting.[63] The Trump administration revived rescissions as a way to permanently codify DOGE's cuts, proposing a rescissions bill to Congress[64] that became law on July24 as the Rescissions Act of 2025.[65]
Trump's use of rescissions became a major hurdle in budget negotiations. Schumer expressed fear that anything the Democratic Party negotiated to include in a budget would be undone by rescission.[66][67][68]
Shutdown overview
This was the 21st funding gap and 11th government shutdown in modern U.S. history, the third to occur during a Trump presidency, and the first to occur since the shutdown that lasted from December 2018 to January 2019 during the first Trump administration.[13] Congressional activity centered on dueling Democratic and Republican proposals to end the shutdown. Until October 13, the Senate held continuous votes on the Democratic-led continuing resolution. It failed on party-line votes.[69]
During the shutdown, the Senate continuously held votes on the House-passed continuing resolution. The votes failed mostly along party lines. Democratic senators John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Angus King broke from their party to vote for the resolution. Republican senator Rand Paul broke from his party to vote against it.[70][71][72]
The Republican-led House stayed in recess during the shutdown and held no votes.[73] On October20, Speaker Mike Johnson said the House was on 24-hour notice to return, if needed.[74]
Major events
On October 25, President Trump announced that a private donor would provide $130 million to cover pay for the US military. Critics of the move noted ethics concerns due to the Antideficiency Act. The New York Times later reported that the donor was Timothy Mellon.[75][76]
On October 27, the Department of Agriculture announced that no SNAP benefits would be issued for November due to the shutdown.[77] That same day, the American Federation of Government Employees union issued a statement calling for Congress to pass a "clean continuing resolution", saying that otherwise the shutdown would never end.[78][79]
The next day, over two dozen states sued the Trump administration to reinstate SNAP benefits for November.[80] On October 31, a Rhode Island federal judge ruled that the USDA must distribute SNAP benefits to recipients as soon as possible, shortly after another federal judge ruled in another case that withholding SNAP benefits was illegal.[81]
On November 7, the Trump administration appealed a district court order to pay SNAP benefits in full.[82] As a result, the Supreme Court agreed to block the SNAP order until the 1st Circuit issued a ruling.[82] At the same time, at least nine states issued November SNAP benefits, including California, Wisconsin, Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Vermont.[82] The next day, the USDA warned states they could distribute only partial SNAP benefits and that the federal government would pull funding from states that distributed full benefits.[83]
Also on November 7, airlines began canceling flights to comply with an order by the Federal Aviation Administration to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers. The FAA ordered that airlines cut 4% of flights and ramp up to 10% by November 14.[84] The FAA lifted all flight restrictions related to the government shutdown on on November 17. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said TSA agents would receive $10,000 bonuses if they provided "exemplary service" during the shutdown, though it was unclear how many agents that would apply to.[85]
Negotiations
The first major negotiation occurred on the Senate floor on October1, during a third vote to end the shutdown. Senators discussed shortening the length of the Republican-planned continuing resolution to use that time to come to a more significant agreement. No agreement was made.[86] Senators of both parties called the preliminary negotiation a "productive discussion".[87]
Following this, there were very few public negotiations. On October 21, President Trump and Senate Republican leadership met at the White House, with Trump saying they would not "be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs". Trump also told Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries he would meet with them only after the shutdown ended.[88]
On October 23, the Senate voted on competing bills to pay troops and federal employees. Republican Senator Ron Johnson introduced the Shutdown Fairness Act, which would provide pay for troops and "excepted employees" during the shutdown. Senator Chris Van Hollen introduced a similar bill that would cover pay for all federal employees.[89] Johnson's bill received 54 votes, failing to meet the 60-vote filibuster threshold.[90]
On October 31, on Truth Social, President Trump called for Republicans to end the Senate filibuster, which requires 60 out of 100 senators to approve legislation, in an effort to end the shutdown.[91]
On November 6, Senator John Kennedy introduced two bills that would prevent members of the U.S. Congress from getting paid during a government shutdown. His proposals came as the current shutdown was on track to potentially becoming the longest in U.S. history, leading to federal workers missing out on paychecks.[92] On November 7, Senate Democratic leadership made an offer to reopen the government in exchange for maintaining Affordable Care Act subsidies for a year. Senate Republicans rejected the offer.[93]
Senate agreement
President Trump signs the Senate amendment ending the government shutdown.
Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026
Other short titles
Public Law 119-37
Long title
Making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes.
Passed the Senate on November 10, 2025(60-40) with amendment
House agreed to Senate amendment on November 12, 2025(222-209)
Signed into law by President Donald Trump on November 12, 2025
On November 9, several senators negotiated a bipartisan agreement.[94] The Senate voted 60–40 that night to advance a continuing resolution to reopen the government. Eight Senate Democrats (Dick Durbin, Angus King, Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, Catherine Cortez Masto, Jacky Rosen, John Fetterman, and Tim Kaine) joined all Senate Republicans except Rand Paul to advance it.[95][96] The deal was brokered by Shaheen, Hassan, and King.[97] On November 10, the Senate passed the agreement by a 60–40 vote.[98] On November 12, the House voted 222–209 to end the government shutdown. President Trump signed the bill at 10:24 PM EST that day,[99][100] whereupon the shutdown ended.[10][101]
The bill
funds the government at existing spending levels until January 30;[102]
funds full-year appropriations bills for military construction and veterans affairs, the legislative branch, and the Department of Agriculture (the bills for these agencies omit spending cuts the Trump administration had proposed earlier in the year);[11]
includes $203.5 million to fund security for members of Congress and $852 million for US Capitol Police;
funds SNAP through September 2026, the end of the fiscal year;[10][102]
guarantees a December Senate vote—but not a House vote—to extend ACA subsidies[10][11] (Senator Angus King has said there is "no guarantee" that an extension of subsidies will pass before they expire on December 31)[94] and extends ACA enrollment to January 15, granting additional time for a deal to be reached;[97]
guarantees that roughly 4,000 federal employees laid off during the shutdown be rehired and granted back pay;[94][96]
allows senators to sue the federal government for at least $500,000 in statutory damages if investigators collect or have collected their records without their knowledge (this applies retroactively to January 1, 2022, months before the launch of the Arctic Frost investigation);[104]
rewrites the federal definition of hemp to effectively ban products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container;[105] and
provides $400 million in funding for research, development and prototyping for the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail radar jet.[105]
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Depending on the passage of an agreement this evening, the data listed here will need to be finalized. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2025)
Members of Congress are guaranteed pay during government shutdowns due to a permanent appropriation passed in 1983, allowing their pay to not be renewed annually compared to other departments. The average member is paid an annual salary of $174,000, with the speaker of the House earning $223,500 and party leaders in each chamber and the president pro tempore of the Senate earning $193,400. Previous shutdowns required Congress to approve back pay for employees, but a 2019 law made it mandatory, except for contractors not included in the law.[113]
According to a Bipartisan Policy Center review, about 830,000federal workers were continuously paid during the shutdown, while over 1million were unpaid. Senate staffers were told on October17 that they would not receive a paycheck on October20 or for the rest of the shutdown. The judicial branch also announced that it had run out of funding to cover full operations.[114]
During an October7 meeting with reporters, Speaker Johnson said he supported back pay for government workers. A draft memo from the Office of Management and Budget reported by Axios floated the idea of not back paying workers after the shutdown ended.[115] An updated version of the memo suggested that either the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act had been misinterpreted or the language was deficient. The memo indicated that Congress was responsible for providing the back pay by including it in any bill passed to fund the government.[116][117]
About two weeks into the shutdown, Business Insider reported that many federal workers and members of the military were dipping into savings and concerned about covering basic needs and medical costs.[118] Civilian Department of Defense employees grew frustrated about pay status and treatment compared to military members by early November 2025, as nearly half of Pentagon civilian employees were veterans as of 2021. Some veteran civilian employees indicated that they felt disrespected and were looking to leave federal work after years or decades at the Defense Department. Others noted concerns with US national security as personal debt and financial concerns are key questions in the security-clearance process.[119]
By late October and early November it was reported that many federal workers had resorted to taking out bank loans to cover costs while either furloughed or working without pay. One spouse of a Department of Defense worker told reporters that they had taken out a no-interest loan of less than $5,000 from United Services Automobile Association (USAA), a small part of the apparently almost $365 million the organization had issued to over 119,000 federal employees since the shutdown. In a similar program, the Navy Federal Credit Union began to issue Paycheck Assistance Program loans, which are also zero-interest, while the Redwood Credit Union also began issuing zero-interest loans.[120]
Federal workers were offered free meals through the World Central Kitchen at pop-up locations, while others such as the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Capital Area Food Bank offered free food and meals. In and around the capitol and Maryland utility providers such as Washington Gas, WSSC Water, and Pepco offered assistance to workers who had been impacted.[121]
The Capitol Area Food Bank and 400 food pantries and aid organizations in the capital, northern Virginia, and two Maryland counties reported that they were providing 8 million more meals than previously budgeted by November 8. The food bank reported that it was an almost a 20% increase in use for the budget year.[122]
On elected officials
Adelita Grijalva was elected to represent Arizona's 7th congressional district in a special election on September 23, after the death of the previous representative, Raúl Grijalva, her father. She was not sworn in until the shutdown ended. Speaker Mike Johnson said it was "standard practice" to "schedule a swearing in for the Representative-elect when the House returns to session."[123] But Johnson, who canceled over a dozen scheduled legislative sessions since Grijalva's election, has sworn in other lawmakers out of session, including two Republican special election winners, Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine. Representatives of both parties alleged that Johnson was trying to avoid a vote to compel the release of files from the Justice Department's investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.[124] Grijalva was sworn in on November 12 after the House reconvened to vote on the Senate-passed spending bill.[125]
Due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which passed after the 2018–2019 government shutdown, federal employees and military personnel are ensured back pay after the shutdown ends.[106] While speaking with reporters on October8, Speaker Johnson said he was not open to moving forward a bill to pay troops if the shutdown continued into the next week.[130] On October11, Trump directed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to pay service members using funds previously earmarked for other projects. A Department of Defense official later said that $8 billion of unobligated research and development funds would be used to pay military personnel. The Director of Budget and Entitlement Policy at the Cato Institute raised concerns about the directive's broad reach and legality.[131]
On October24, the Pentagon announced it would accept a private $130 million donation to help pay military personnel.[132][75] Ethics concerns were raised about the decision to accept the gift, with many saying the donation might violate the Antideficiency Act, which bars federal agencies from spending funds not appropriated by Congress. On October26, The New York Times reported that the private donor was Timothy Mellon, a longtime Trump donor who gave $50 million to Trump's super PAC during his 2024 election campaign.[76]
On October22, the German Finance Ministry announced that it would take over the payment of 11,000local employees stationed at U.S. military bases in Germany and anticipated being reimbursed by the U.S. government.[133] The Fort Leavenworth Installation Warrior Restaurant closed due to the shutdown. Per a notice from base officials, the restaurant is the only dining facility or DFAC on the base where most junior enlisted soldiers can eat if they cannot leave the base.[134]
Use of food banks
A little over a week into the shutdown, Time reported an increase in military members and families relying on food pantries, as service members' spouses are usually either unemployed due to frequent relocation or also employed by the federal government. A military-based food pantry in Kansas saw a 300% increase in traffic, while the Armed Service YMCA, a military nonprofit, saw a 30% increase in food requests across all locations and a 34% increase at its location in Killeen, Texas.[135]
In early November 2025, directives posted to the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria website were swiftly taken down after being reported on. The directives stated that the team would continue to provide services for those working and living in the community while also providing a running list of German support organizations such as Essen für Alle (Food for All), Foodsharin e.V., Tafel Deutschland and Too Good To Go.[136] A food bank near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio reported that their numbers were up with an average of 250 families a week in September 2025, with an anticipated 500 families a week in early November 2025.[137]
On Native Americans
The federal shutdown had varied effects on Native Americans and tribal nations. Those with casinos, oil and gas leases, or other forms of independent revenue reported that they believed they could operate for several months, while others more dependent on government funding and assistance were more concerned. Others raised concerns that the Trump administration would act on earlier calls by Trump and Elon Musk for the General Services Administration to terminate leases held by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other offices or terminate employees.[138]
Shortly after the shutdown was announced, the Navajo Nation announced that it would continue to offer essential services to members.[139] During an October29 meeting of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, tribal representatives reported the difficulties of covering the costs of necessities such as heating, food, and education. National Indian Education Association president Kerry Bird said most of her staff had been furloughed and spoke of her concerns about the freeze on Education Department grants.[140]
Concern was voiced about the shutdown and its effects on the Federal Reserve's October29 decision about the next interest rate, as key reports were not being generated. Additional concern was raised about the potential reduction of the annualized real gross domestic product growth for the fourth quarter, as it was projected at 0.1%,[146] though much of that could be recouped, as has happened after previous shutdowns. But if Trump dismisses workers, rather than temporarily putting them on furlough—or does not pay many of them—the impact could be more substantial.[147] On October 6, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett told reporters that each week of the shutdown could cost the U.S. economy about $15 billion.[148] The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the US economy permanently lost about $11 billion from the shutdown.[149]
The shutdown's effects were prominent in Washington, where unemployment was over the national average of 4.3% in a September 2025 report from the Office of Revenue Analysis and the highest in the US for months. About 20% of all federal workers are employed in Washington, with about 150,000 residing in the area. Local businesses reported a revenue decline of about 50% compared to before the shutdown.[122]
Education
A contingency plan was created for the Department of Education after 95% of its staff was furloughed, apart from the Federal Student Aid Office. Services such as student aid disbursements, funding for Title 1 schools, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act continue during the shutdown. Schools receiving Impact Aid, such as those on military bases or Native American reservations, are affected as they are primarily funded by the federal government, not state or local taxes.[150] On October 11, it was reported that the Department of Education had dismissed nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in a wave of mass layoffs during the shutdown.[151]
The shutdown confused college students and their families, who were unsure if they could complete the FAFSA and receive federal aid. Federal aid and the FAFSA are not affected by the shutdown and many colleges and universities issued statements to that effect.[152][153] Some higher education institutions and research associations issued guidance about the shutdown's impact. The National Institutes of Health said that while many researchers can still draw from its funds, there are some restrictive terms and conditions.[154] Some universities paused tuition payments for students affected by the shutdown, such as the more than 75,000college and trade school students who are dependents and survivors of former military members.[155][156]
The government shutdown affected the Head Start program, an early education program that serves children under six. The Department of Health and Human Services said that more than 58,600children in 134Head Start centers in 41states and Puerto Rico would not receive grants on November1 if the shutdown continued. The program's funding had already been affected, as the Trump administration mistakenly froze grants in January 2025.[157]
Maryland governor Wes Moore visiting a food pantry during the shutdown
Food and Drug Administration commissioner Marty Makary told employees that the agency was exempt from shutdown cuts.[159]
As of early November, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program was distributing benefits normally, as a $450 million funding source had been found.[160] Before the shutdown began, WIC funding had been expected to run out after two weeks, but a week into the shutdown, the USDA distributed money from the 2024 fiscal year to cover some access in some states.[161][106] WIC served about 6.7million people monthly during the 2024 fiscal year, including about 41% of all infants in the country.[162]
USDA website notice regarding SNAP on October 27, 2025
Payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) were delayed[163] and halved.[164] In October, states began to notify SNAP recipients that benefits would pause,[165][166] and on October27, the USDA announced that no benefits would be issued on November1, also blaming the shutdown on the Democratic Party.[77][167] On November3, after lawsuits against the administration, the USDA said it would send SNAP recipients half the funds it would have otherwise sent them for November.[164] According to the Center on Budgets and Policy Priorities, the USDA has about $5 billion in SNAP contingency funding, or about 60% of a month in benefits. More than 41million people participate in the program. Most recipients in 2023 were aged 18 to 59; children were about 39%. The average monthly assistance per person in 2025 was $190.59, with a household averaging $356.41.[162][168][169]
The decision left the program's funding uncertain for approximately 43 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits. Several states, including California and New York, announced temporary funding measures to maintain payments during the shutdown.[170][171] Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) initiative to offset the loss of federal funding for SNAP.[172] Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the release of $62 million in funding to offset the loss of November federal funding for SNAP.[173] After many states began issuing SNAP benefits in late October, the USDA issued a memo ordering the states to stop issuing "unauthorized" SNAP benefits while they challenged the decision.[174]
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which provides low-cost or free school lunches to children, provided more than 4.8billion lunches in 2024.[162] This program is not expected to be affected by the shutdown,[175] but Diane Pratt-Heavner of the School Nutrition Association said that some state agencies have reported that they lack the funds to reimburse schools for providing the lunches. The USDA reportedly released funding for the program in October 2025, but in early October some states reported that they had yet to receive the funds.[176]
Food banks
During the shutdown, food bank nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C., and nationwide, such as Stronghold Food Pantry, Feeding America, and Capital Area Food Bank, reported extended queues at food banks in the D.C. area, Virginia, and Maryland, where many federal workers live.[177][178] After many states announced that SNAP and WIC benefits would not be issued for November, many food banks began to prepare for an influx of people set to lose the benefits.[179][14][16] There was also an influx in large donations to food banks during the shutdown from the Tull Family Foundation, Bank of America, the Centene Foundation, H-E-B, and many local philanthropists and businesses.[180][181][182] Food bank drives and personal donations increased, including at Alpha Kappa Alpha and Boy Scout meetings.[183][184]
College and university students increasingly relied on food banks. More than 1.1 million college students are on SNAP. Many students reported concerns about being able to stay in school or properly cover costs due to lack of SNAP benefits and rising grocery and cost-of-living costs.[185]
Resulting lawsuits
On October28, over two dozen states sued the Trump administration in Massachusetts v. USDA after the USDA announced that no SNAP benefits would be disbursed to recipients on November1. The states requested that the presiding judge force the administration to maintain the benefits.[80][186]
Massachusetts, California, Arizona, Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawai'i, Illinois, Governor Laura Kelly, Office of Governor Andy Beshear, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, State of New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Governor Josh Shapiro, Rhode Island, Vermont, State of Washington, Wisconsin v. United States Department of Agriculture, Secretary Brooke Rollins, Director Russell Vought[187]
On October31, it was reported that Rhode Island federal judge John J. McConnell Jr. had ruled in Rhode Island State Council of Churches v. Rollins that the USDA must distribute SNAP benefits to recipients as soon as possible. McConnell referenced the US$6billion in contingency funds.[81] Federal judge Indira Talwani gave the Trump administration a November3 deadline to respond to her about authorizing at least partial SNAP benefits for November.[189][186]
Trump said his administration's lawyers were unsure the administration had the authority to pay for SNAP during the shutdown.[192] On October31, Trump posted, "If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay." In the post he also blamed the Democratic Party for the shutdown.[192][193] On CNN's State of the Union, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the administration would follow the ruling and suggested that the benefits could restart by November5.[189]
Legal challenges arose after the USDA announced the suspension of full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November. A federal district court initially ordered the Trump administration to continue full benefit payments, but this order was temporarily stayed by Justice Jackson after the government filed an appeal.[82] On November 10, Trump administration lawyers petitioned the Supreme Court to allow SNAP benefits to remain frozen, with a ruling expected from the court by November 11.[194]
On October 23, it was reported that many people who obtain health insurance under the ACA had begun to see premium prices rise after open enrollment began on October 15 without any of the federal subsidies that formerly lowered consumer costs.[196][197]
Judiciary and law enforcement
Supreme Court public information officer Patricia McCabe told reporters that the Court expected to run out of funding by October18. McCabe indicated that the Supreme Court would be closed to the public but would continue to conduct official business such as hearing oral arguments, issuing orders, and other ventures. The Administrative Office of the US Courts gave a similar timeline for federal courts, with funding expected to dry up by October20.[198] Several federal district courts announced that they would begin operating on modified schedules, such as limiting employees who work specific days or closing entirely for others, to handle the changes to their budgets.[199]
NASA
According to a September29 shutdown plan released by NASA, 15,094NASA civil servants have been furloughed, while 3,124 have been classified as exempted and continue working. The exempted workers include those needed for the operations of the International Space Station, those operating active satellite missions, and those working on the Artemis program. The shutdown will not affect preparations for the Artemis II crewed mission around the Moon, currently scheduled for February 2026.[200][201]
Service message from NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
According to a September30 contingency plan by the Department of Interior, all national parks were to be left partially open during the shutdown, but any buildings that required staffing, such as visitor centers or sites such as the Washington Monument, would be closed to the public, with only restrooms open and trash collected as normal. Park roads, lookouts, trails and open-air memorials were expected to stay open with limited emergency services available to visitors. The plan was similar to the one adopted during the 2018–2019 government shutdown.[202][203]
Some states, such as West Virginia, used state funding to keep their national parks open during the shutdown.[204] In some areas, guide services saw an influx of business as visitors used the service as a stand-in for park rangers and workers. Private museums also saw a boost in visitors because national parks and museums were closed, with the Mount Vernon estate reporting a 50% increase in visitors during the first two weeks of October.[205] The lack of visitors and paid entry into many national parks reportedly caused the loss of almost $25 million in revenue as of October 25. This figure is based on analysis by the National Parks Conservation Association, which reported that the National Park Service lost about $1 million a day.[206]
Conservationists, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the National Park Service all issued warnings to the public to use caution or not to visit national parks during the shutdown due to concern about skeleton staffing making it difficult to assist in an emergency. Additional concern was raised about the mass layoffs shortly after Trump took office, which made many parks already short-staffed before the shutdown.[207] Locals, furloughed workers, and local organizations worked together during the shutdown to keep national parks clean and well-kept.[205]
As a result of the shutdown and lessened number of park rangers and workers, vandalism, unsanctioned and unsafe behavior was seen at a number of national parks across the country. At Arches National Park, a retired national park ranger discovered fresh white spray-painted graffiti and toilet paper on the park's sandstone features.[208] Shortly into the shutdown multiple pictures and videos were posted of visitors to Yosemite National Park participating in illegal behavior such as BASE jumping from El Capitan and climbing the Half Dome cables without permits. Alleged squatters did not leave the park's campgrounds due to the lack of park rangers.[209] There was a 70-acre wildfire near an unstaffed camping ground in Joshua Tree National Park and a historic stone wall fell over in Gettysburg National Military Park.[210][211]
Air travel still functioned, but air traffic controller hiring, field training of air traffic controllers, facility security inspections and law enforcement assistance support were stopped.[129] Since October 1, air traffic controllers had been performing their duties without compensation, in addition to fulfilling mandatory overtime requirements.[216] Since the shutdown many air traffic controllers had begun working odd jobs, gig work such as Uber and Doordash and other jobs in an attempt to cover expenses.[217] Beginning on October6, staffing shortages led to flight delays at various airports.[218] On October7, it was reported that cities such as Nashville, Dallas, Chicago, and Newark were seeing high levels of delays due to the air traffic controller shortage. The Hollywood Burbank Airport control tower was unstaffed for nearly six hours and then remotely managed due to shortages.[219] By October8, airport staffing shortages led to delays reported at Boston, Burbank, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington.[218]
On October15, it was reported that multiple airports were rejecting the use of a video provided by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the shutdown and the resulting impact on TSA operations. Many airports rejected the video on the grounds that it violated their policies and regulations prohibiting political messaging at the airport, with some experts raising concerns about violations of the Hatch Act.[215][220]
Detroit Metro Airport sign regarding the Kristi Noem video
On November4, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would begin to reduce flights at dozens of major airports and close sections of airspace due to staffing shortages beginning November7.[221][222] On November5, Duffy announced that 40 airports, included in the "Core30" high traffic airports, would cut airspace capacity by 10% starting November7.[223] Before his announcement, staffing shortages over the weekend of November 1–2 had led to major delays and concern about potential widespread travel chaos. During the week of November 3–7, NPR reporters spoke with some air traffic controllers who said morale was low even before the shutdown, with resentment at mandatory overtime and stagnating wages due to longstanding staffing issues.[224] During the shutdown tens of thousands of flights were canceled nationwide after the FAA's flight reduction orders.[225][226] On November 10, the FAA announced that they would prohibit "business aviation" or the use of private airplanes at about a dozen airports, on top of the previously implemented flight restrictions.[227]
While speaking with reporters on November 9, Transportation Secretary Duffy stated that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had offered air traffic controllers from the military reserves in order to help combat the shortage. Duffy explained his hesitancy as the offered air traffic controllers would have to be vetted to see what airspace they had previously worked in.[228] A few days before the end of the government shutdown Trump argued while speaking with Fox News that air traffic controllers who took on second jobs and did not show up for work were to be docked pay, while those that came into work would be recommended for a $10,000 bonus. Trump did not elaborate where he would find the funds to make the payments but stated he wanted to reward those who showed up without complaining.[229]
On September24, the Office of Management and Budget instructed federal agency heads to prepare reduction-in-force plans to be executed if the government were to shut down, reducing the government workforce permanently instead of temporarily furloughing staff.[232] If conducted, such layoffs could have drastic and far-reaching consequences, especially in land management and environmental agencies.[233] Democratic congressional leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries called it "intimidation".[234] One former OMB official and congressman, James Walkinshaw, questioned whether preparing or conducting a reduction in force during a shutdown would be legal, but as the practice is unprecedented, an executive at the Partnership for Public Service could not predict how it would play out.[235]
On September30, Trump told reporters that he was in favor of mass layoffs, saying, "We'd be laying off a lot of people that are going to be very affected, they're going to be Democrats" and "We can get rid of a lot of things that we didn't want."[236]
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had the second-most layoffs, about 1,100. Nearly all of these were at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including many in infectious disease programs, which had been largely spared in the April 2025 HHS layoffs. Other affected programs included the Laboratory Leadership Service and CDC Library, as well as leadership from several CDC components.[d] The Washington Office was reported to be completely closed.[244] Some layoff notices were reversed the next day after reportedly having been in error, including the entire staff of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,[243] recent cohorts of the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Ebola response personnel, and Global Health Center leadership.[245] About 700employees were reinstated to their positions on October11.[246]
On October15, U.S. district judge Susan Illston issued a restraining order against the Trump administration after siding with the two unions. The order is to be used to stop the government from issuing any reduction-in-force notices and her decision included instructions not to enforce any notices already sent to any of the agencies that have employees the unions represent.[249]
On October17, it was reported that the Trump administration had paused work on only a small number of those who were laid off to comply with Illston's order. The pause affected 465Education Department employees, 102Census Bureau employees, and more than 400Department of Housing and Urban Development employees.[250]
Responses
Republicans
Several Republican officials and organizations, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, the Senate Republican Conference, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, falsely accused Democrats of demanding free health care for undocumented immigrants, to whom the Affordable Care Act does not apply. This is based on Republican claims that there has been widespread fraud in Affordable Care Act enrollment.[251] Independent reporters, analysts, and oversight bodies have disputed those claims or not substantiated them at their reported scale.[e]
Most House representatives have left the Capitol at the direction of Mike Johnson. Representative Kevin Kiley of California has continued to work at the Capitol in an effort to end the shutdown. Kiley told reporters that he was looking for "any and all constructive conversations" to end the shutdown, saying, "Clearly, it's not working...Sometimes you have to work with people who have a different position in order to find common ground."[258]
Trump administration
After the unsuccessful back-to-back votes, Trump told reporters that Senate Democrats "want to shut down the country", except John Fetterman, who voted for the Republican spending bill.[259] After he met with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, Trump posted a controversial deepfake, AI-generated video of Schumer and Jeffries with fabricated audio of Schumer saying that Democrats "have no voters anymore, because of our woke, trans bullshit" and "if we give all these illegal aliens health care, we might be able to get them on our side so they can vote for us."[52] In an interview with Politico's Dasha Burns, Trump called Democrats "deranged".[260]
Trump posted that the shutdown was an "unprecedented opportunity" and that he would meet "with Russ Vought, he of Project 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut".[261][262] During the shutdown, the administration halted billions in approved funding largely going to states that had voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, including $20billion for public transport in New York City and Chicago.[f]
Before and during the shutdown, government websites and emails blamed Democrats and the "radical left" for it,[236] actions some claim were illegal.[268] Hours before the shutdown was set to begin, the Department of Housing and Urban Development's website warned, in a pop-up and a red banner, that the radical left would hurt the United States,[269][270] and Department of Health and Human Services encouraged its employees to set out-of-office email messages blaming the Democratic Party for the shutdown.[271] In a statement, the department said: "Employees were instructed to use out-of-office messages that reflect the truth: Democrats have shut the government down."[272]
At the Department of Education, employees' out-of-office messages were forcibly changed to political ones and they were unable to remove the partisan messaging:[275]
Thank you for contacting me. On September19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed HR 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking the passage of HR 5371 in the Senate, which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse in appropriations, I am currently in furlough status. I will respond to emails once government functions resume.
In early November 2025, it was ruled that the Department of Education violated the First Amendment rights of the furloughed workers by "commandeering" their out of office messages to "broadcast partisan messages". The ruling applies only to Department of Education workers.[276]
Democrats
Democrats proposed a constant livestream to discuss the shutdown.[277] The night before the shutdown, many politicians, including Representative Sarah McBride and Senator Andy Kim, posted on social media and told the media that their Republican counterparts were not in the Capitol to vote on the budget.[278][279] Representative Robert Garcia said the messages placed on government agency websites blaming Democrats for the shutdown violated the Hatch Act.[272] Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez held a town hall on CNN to discuss the shutdown.[280][281]
After eight Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to end the shutdown, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer faced calls to resign from members of his party who felt that he had allowed the Democrats to vote with the Republicans. While none of those calling for his resignation are from his caucus, some in his caucus are reportedly frustrated by the perceived lack of a plan during the shutdown to secure any serious concessions from Republicans.[282][283]
Former government officials
House speaker Mike Johnson addresses the shutdown (October 1, 2025).
In a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, over 35former park superintendents urged the parks managed by the National Park Service to close to avoid damage by unsupervised visitors.[284]
Public opinion
In most surveys regarding US government shutdowns, Republicans have received more blame than Democrats, though a substantial portion of survey respondents said they were not sure.
Pre-shutdown
A poll conducted by Data for Progress from September5 to 7 asked likely voters whom they would blame for a potential shutdown at the end of the month. 27% of respondents thought Republicans in Congress would be responsible, 32% expected to blame Trump personally, and 34% placed the blame on Democrats in Congress.[286] Two days before the shutdown, a poll by Morning Consult indicated 45% of voters said they would blame Republicans and 32% said they would blame Democrats.[287]
In a September22 to 27 poll by The New York Times and Siena University, 26% of respondents blamed the Trump and Republican Party for the shutdown, compared to 19% who blamed the Democratic Party and 33% who blamed both parties.[288] Another question asked whether Democrats should shut down the government if their demands were not met; 27% of respondents said yes and 65% no.[289]
In a September30 poll by NPR, 38% of respondents blamed the Republican Party for the shutdown, compared to 27% who blamed the Democratic Party, 31% who blamed both parties, and 1% who blamed neither. Another NPR poll conducted days earlier, which controlled for political affiliation, indicated that while Democrats and Republicans were more likely to blame each other for a hypothetical shutdown, independent voters were most likely to blame both.[290]
In a poll conducted by KFF from September23 to 29, 78% of respondents supported extending Affordable Care Act tax credits, and 61% of respondents had heard little or nothing about the expiring subsidies.[291][292]
During the shutdown
An October1 poll from The Washington Post indicated that 47% of respondents believed that Trump and Republicans in Congress were mainly responsible for the shutdown, compared to the 30% who blamed Democrats in Congress. This was consistent with polls regarding past shutdowns in the last 30years, including the month-long shutdown during the first Trump presidency: according to polls, public opinion blamed Republicans more than Democrats with a difference of +10% or higher for every shutdown since 1995.[293]
An October1–2 Harvard CAPS/Harris poll showed 65% of respondents felt the Democrats should accept a continuing resolution at current spending levels, but the same poll showed 53% of respondents blamed Republicans.[294] An October1–3 CBS News poll via YouGov asked a multitude of questions. 39% of respondents blamed Trump and Republicans for the shutdown, compared to the 30% who blamed Democrats and 31% who blamed both parties equally. Respondents felt that Trump, Republicans, and Democrats were handling the shutdown poorly at 52%, 52%, and 49%, respectively.[295] An October2–7 Reuters/IPSOS poll found that 67% of respondents said that Republicans deserved a fair amount of the blame for the shutdown, compared to 63% who blamed Democrats. About 63% of respondents said that Trump deserved a fair amount of blame.[296]
An October9–13 AP-NORC poll found that nine in ten adults felt the federal shutdown was at least a "minor" problem. Democrats were more concerned, with 69% saying the shutdown was a major problem compared to 37% of Republicans. Over half the respondents, 58%, blamed the shutdown on both Trump and the Republicans, with Congressional Democrats blamed by 54%.[297]
An October24–28 Washington Post-ABC News-IPSOS poll found that more than 4 in 10U.S. adults, about 45%, held Trump and Republicans primarily responsible for the shutdown. Blame for the Democrats had grown from 30% when the shutdown began to 33% in the latter poll. Three out of four U.S. adults said they were "very" or "somewhat" concerned about the shutdown; the figure was 87% among self-described liberals and 62% among self-described conservatives.[298]
A poll conducted by NBC News from October 24 to 28 found that 52% of respondents blamed Trump and Republicans while 42% blamed Democrats.[299]
On October 30, the shutdown's 30th day, an ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that 45% of respondents blamed Republicans, 33% blamed Democrats, and 22% were uncertain.[300]
On November 7, YouGov published a comparative analysis of poll results by YouGov and The Economist in October and November. It found that 32% blamed Democrats in Congress, 35% blamed Republicans, and 28% blamed both parties equally. Republicans originally took the brunt of the blame for the shutdown in the October 17-20 poll, with 39% of Americans blaming them for the shutdown as opposed to 31% for Democrats. But by November, 35% blamed Republicans and 32% Democrats, and the proportion choosing "both sides to blame" was rising rapidly. Even as voters blamed Republicans for the shutdown, the net approval for congressional Democrats' handling of the situation remained lower than or equal to the net approval for congressional Republicans' handling. Trump's approval rating also declined.[301]
In Navigator Research's surveys taken during the shutdown, the target of respondents' blame changed by only a couple of points, with 45% blaming Trump and Republicans in an October 5 poll and 48% on November 9. Democrats were held responsible by 32% of those surveyed on October 5, compared with 34% on November 9. Among independents, 46% blamed Trump and Republicans, and only 24% blamed Democrats (dates were not given for this data set).[302]
Operational criticism
When the Trump administration rolled out spending freezes across the entire federal government, fiscal and monetary analyst Nathan Tankus commented that the freeze was "the most dramatic event ever" in the annals of constitutional law on fiscal policy in the U.S., arguing that the Oval Office's pertinent executive orders essentially give the president "far greater control" over Congress's authority to spend.[303]
Tankus delineated the "extremely unique" legal architecture of the U.S. government. In countries with a parliamentary system, the government can "fall apart" or even lose its mandate to govern if its parliament cannot pass a budget.[304] In the U.S., tax revenue typically goes into the general fund,[305] an accounting fact that does not mean the government spends any additional money. Tankus concludes that, while the Trump administration has been "circumspect and legalistic" about spending without appropriations, it has also been "brazen" in ignoring congressional orders to spend.[304]
↑"Impact of Key Provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 COVID-19 Relief on Marketplace Premiums". KFF. March 15, 2021. Retrieved November 9, 2025. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (COVID-19 relief) law passed in March 2021 expands Marketplace subsidies above 400% of poverty and also increases subsidies for those making between 100% and 400% of the poverty level, for two years (2021 and 2022), consistent with what President Biden proposed during his campaign.
↑Gold, Michael (September 30, 2025). "U.S. Begins Shutdown That Could Lead to Mass Layoffs and Service Cuts". The New York Times. Retrieved September 30, 2025. Shortly after the Senate failed to pass a measure to fund the federal government, the White House's Office of Management and Budget issued a memo directing executive branch agencies to "execute their plans for an orderly shutdown."
↑Zeidenstein, Harvey G. (1978). "The reassertion of Congressional power: New curbs on the President". Political Science Quarterly. 93 (3): 393–409. doi:10.2307/2149531. JSTOR2149531.
↑Walker, Amy Schoenfeld; Khurana, Malika; Zhang, Christine (June 22, 2025). "What remains of U.S.A.I.D.?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 22, 2025.
↑Hubbard, Kaia (September 29, 2025). "Lessons of March funding fight color Democrats' shutdown approach". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2025. The GOP also approved a rescissions package that clawed back congressionally approved funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting, which Democrats say has increased distrust that funding agreements will be honored.
↑Watson, Kathryn (September 29, 2025). "Schumer after meeting with Trump: 'Still large differences between us'". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2025. Schumer said Democrats and the White House have 'very large differences' on health care and concerns that Republicans and the White House would undo approved government funding through rescissions.
↑Watson, Kathryn (September 29, 2025). "Schumer says there was a 'possible division' between GOP leaders and Trump in their conversation". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 29, 2025. Schumer said he and Jeffries particularly raised the need to extend the Affordable Care Act's enhanced health insurance tax credits and the concern that the threat of rescissions and impoundments—two controversial strategies for the Trump administration to avoid spending money appropriated by Congress—make negotiations impossible.
↑@realDonaldTrump (October 31, 2025). "Truth Details". Truth Social. Archived from the original on October 31, 2025. Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do. I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible. It is already delayed enough due to the Democrats keeping the Government closed through the monthly payment date and, even if we get immediate guidance, it will unfortunately be delayed while States get the money out. If we are given the appropriate legal direction by the Court, it will BE MY HONOR to provide the funding, just like I did with Military and Law Enforcement Pay. The Democrats should quit this charade where they hurt people for their own political reasons and immediately REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT. If you use SNAP benefits, call the Senate Democrats, and tell them to reopen the Government, NOW! Here is Cryin' Chuck Schumer's Office Number: (202) 224-6542
↑@realDonaldTrump (October 2, 2025). "Truth Details". Truth Social. Archived from the original on October 2, 2025. I have a meeting today with Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame, to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which are a political SCAM, he recommends to be cut, and whether or not those cuts will be temporary or permanent. I can't believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity. They are not stupid people, so maybe this is their way of wanting to, quietly and quickly, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! President DJT
↑"U.S. Department of Transportation Statement on Review of New York's Discriminatory, Unconstitutional Contracting Processes". United States Department of Transportation (Press release). October 1, 2025. Archived from the original on October 1, 2025. WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following statement: USDOT issued an interim final rule (IFR) barring race- and sex-based contracting requirements from federal grants. Secretary Duffy's position on the DBE program is clear – subsidizing infrastructure contracts with taxpayer dollars based on discriminatory principles is unconstitutional, counter to civil rights laws, and a waste of taxpayer resources. USDOT issued letters to New York to inform them that their two mega projects – the 2nd Avenue Subway and Hudson Tunnel – are under administrative review to determine whether any unconstitutional practices are occurring. The Department is focusing on these projects because they are arguably the largest infrastructure initiatives in the Western Hemisphere, and the American people want to see them completed quickly and efficiently. Until USDOT's quick administrative review is complete, project reimbursements cannot be processed, including a $300 million disbursement for the 2nd Avenue Subway. The remaining federal funding for these projects totals nearly $18 billion. Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries shutdown, however, USDOT's review of New York's unconstitutional practices will take more time. Without a budget, the Department has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review. This is another unfortunate casualty of radical Democrats' reckless decision to hold the federal government hostage to give illegal immigrants benefits.
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