When Politics Shut Down the Government: A Look at the Chaos
The Beginning of the Shutdown
The U.S. government shutdown in October was a mess. It all started when the Senate rejected funding plans from both Republicans and Democrats. This marked the first shutdown in six years, and it hit hard.
- 67,000 workers were sent home without pay.
- 730,000 workers had to keep working without pay.
- The military, with 1.3 million active-duty troops and over 750,000 National Guard and reserves, had to keep serving.
Escalation and Impact
Things got worse on October 20th:
- Federal courts ran out of money and could only do the bare minimum.
- Court staff had to work without pay or were furloughed, slowing down trials and piling up cases.
By October 23rd, the Senate couldn't even pass a bill to pay essential workers and the military. Pilot unions, including the Allied Pilots Association, started pushing Congress to end the shutdown.
Political Maneuvering
On October 30th, former President Trump called for an end to the Senate filibuster, a rule that allows the minority party to block votes if they lack sufficient support. At the time, the Senate composition was:
- Republicans: 53 seats
- Democrats: 45 seats
- Independents: 2 (caucused with Democrats)
The Shutdown Drags On
By November 4th, Democrats won several key elections, but the Senate still couldn't pass a funding package. The shutdown caused significant disruptions:
- 16,700 flights were delayed.
- 2,282 flights were canceled.
On November 5th, the shutdown became the longest in U.S. history, surpassing the 35-day shutdown of 2018-19. Trump blamed the shutdown for the GOP's election losses and continued to push for an end to the filibuster.
The Breakthrough
Finally, on November 9th, a group of Democrats and one independent joined Republicans to break the deadlock. Key senators involved in the negotiations included:
- Jeanne Shaheen
- Maggie Hassan
- Angus King
On November 10th, the same group approved a bill to fund the government through January 2026. However, the bill did not include a guaranteed extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits, which Democrats had been demanding.
Aftermath and Reactions
Speaker Mike Johnson called House members back to vote on the bill, despite travel delays. Some Democrats were angry and called for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to resign after eight votes to end the shutdown.
