News Summary
The ongoing federal government shutdown has reached day 23, causing significant disruptions in transportation services and food assistance programs nationwide. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of increased flight delays and cancellations due to air traffic controllers working without pay. In Washington state, nearly 930,000 low-income residents face the end of food benefits as funding runs out, impacting families across the state. The shutdown has also led to potential layoffs of employees processing food assistance applications. The crisis continues to affect millions of Americans as discussions about solutions remain ongoing.
Washington, D.C. – The ongoing federal government shutdown has reached its 23rd day as of October 23, 2025, bringing significant disruptions to transportation services and food assistance programs across the nation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that air travelers may face increased flight delays and cancellations as air traffic controllers continue to work without compensation due to the shutdown.
During a news conference at the Capitol, Secretary Duffy highlighted recent challenges faced by air traffic control facilities. A staffing shortage led to a temporary halt of flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary ground stop for LAX amid staffing-related delays reported in major cities including Chicago, Washington, and Newark.
Compounding the transportation issues, hundreds of thousands of low-income residents in Washington state face the loss of food benefits beginning November 1, 2025, because of the partial government shutdown. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services announced that all Basic Food assistance benefits will end on October 31 due to a lack of federal funding. This decision could impact nearly 930,000 residents who were enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as of September, collectively receiving over $173 million in monthly food benefits. More than half of those beneficiaries come from families with children.
The potential end to food assistance is a dire situation for an estimated 170,000 individuals in Washington state. Additionally, temporary layoffs for employees at the Department of Social and Health Services, who process SNAP applications, may begin on November 4 if the shutdown persists. Although applications for food benefits are still being accepted, processing for new requests and eligibility reviews will be halted during the shutdown.
In response to the shutdown and its impact, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and 45 other Senate Democrats have urged the Agriculture Secretary to provide contingency funding to ensure SNAP benefits can continue. Nationwide, approximately 41.7 million Americans received SNAP benefits on a monthly basis in fiscal year 2024, making the loss of these benefits a nationwide concern.
In Washington state, more than 1,600 federal workers have submitted applications for unemployment benefits since the shutdown’s start. However, those who continue working without pay do not qualify for unemployment assistance. The state’s Department of Financial Institutions is actively providing resources for federal workers who are affected by the ongoing situation.
The partial shutdown commenced on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to approve a stopgap funding measure, marking the current situation as the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
As the crisis deepens, the conversations about the future of both air travel and food assistance continue. The impacts of this shutdown are increasingly apparent, affecting both the economy and the everyday lives of millions of Americans across diverse sectors.
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Additional Resources
- Seattle Times: WA SNAP Benefits to Run Out Nov 1 If Government Shutdown Persists
- Reuters: US Government Shutdown Threatens Spending Power
- Kitsap Sun: Federal Workers in Washington File for Unemployment During Shutdown
- KXLY: State of Washington Hosts Second Free Webinar for Workers Affected by Government Shutdown
- Washington Post: Senate Government Shutdown Vote Count
- Wikipedia: Government Shutdown in the United States
- Google Search: Government Shutdown 2025
- Google Scholar: Government Shutdown Impact
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Government Shutdown
- Google News: Government Shutdown News
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