News Summary
The federal government shutdown has now reached its fourth week, leading to significant disturbances in air travel and food assistance across the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that air traffic controllers are facing challenges as they work without pay, causing delays and staffing shortages at various major airports. In addition to air travel disruptions, the shutdown threatens food assistance programs, with the Washington State DSHS announcing that Basic Food benefits will cease soon, affecting nearly 930,000 residents. The ongoing situation highlights severe repercussions for essential services.
Washington, D.C. — The federal government shutdown entered its fourth week, causing significant disruptions in air traffic operations and food assistance programs across the United States. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy held a news conference on October 23, 2025, at the Capitol, addressing the ongoing impacts of the shutdown. He indicated that air travel would likely continue to face disturbances as air traffic controllers work without pay.
Flight operations to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) faced a temporary halt on Sunday due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the shutdown has led to delays at other major airports, including those in Chicago, Washington, and Newark, New Jersey. A ground stop for flights headed to LAX was issued around 11:42 a.m. Eastern time and lifted at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. Significant late arrivals were also reported at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport, attributed to weather and equipment issues. Insufficient air traffic controllers resulted in further disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport, Teterboro Airport, and Southwest Florida International Airport.
During the conference, Secretary Duffy expressed concerns about future flight disruptions amid the ongoing staffing issues caused by the shutdown. Affected air traffic controllers, now working without pay, contribute to the challenges facing major airports across the nation.
Meanwhile, the shutdown’s impact extends beyond air travel to essential services like food assistance. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) announced that all Basic Food assistance benefits will cease on October 31 due to the federal government shutdown. This decision threatens nearly 930,000 residents in Washington who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), representing over 10% of the state population. The DSHS may also begin temporary layoffs for hundreds of employees who support the SNAP program starting November 4.
During the shutdown, DSHS will not process new applications, eligibility reviews, or mid-certification reviews for food benefits. However, existing funds on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards will remain available after October, and grocery stores will continue to accept these benefits for the time being. State officials warned that the shutdown could result in delays and longer wait times for customer services, which may further exacerbate the difficulties faced by vulnerable populations.
Approximately 170,000 people in Washington are at risk of losing access to food stamps unless funding is restored. State officials reported that monthly benefits for remaining SNAP participants might be reduced by an average of $56. In response to these concerns, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell and 45 other Senate Democrats have urged the distribution of contingency funding to prevent interruptions in SNAP benefits.
Additionally, over 1,600 federal workers in Washington have filed for unemployment benefits since the shutdown began, with many claims still pending. Washington has nearly 80,000 federal employees, many of whom may face ongoing layoffs and funding shortages as the standoff in Congress continues. A webinar for affected workers is scheduled for October 30, focusing on unemployment benefits and additional resources during the shutdown.
This government shutdown has now become one of the longest in U.S. history, with Congress unable to reach a compromise to reopen the government. As the shutdown continues, the repercussions for air travel and essential services such as food assistance grow increasingly severe.
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Additional Resources
- Seattle Times: WA SNAP Benefits to Run Out Nov 1
- Wikipedia: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
- Reuters: US Government Shutdown Threatens Spending Power
- Google Search: US Government Shutdown
- Kitsap Sun: Federal Workers in Washington File for Unemployment
- Google Scholar: Government Shutdown
- KXLY: Washington Hosts Webinar for Workers Affected by Shutdown
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Government Shutdown
- Washington Post: Senate Government Shutdown Vote Count
- Google News: Government Shutdown News
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