Pressure builds on Congress to end the shutdown, but a quick
breakthrough appears unlikely
[October 28, 2025]
By KEVIN FREKING and STEPHEN GROVES
WASHINGTON (AP) — The pressure to end the second-longest federal
government shutdown is gaining new urgency this week as millions of
Americans face the prospect of losing food assistance, more federal
workers miss their first full paycheck and recurring delays at airports
snarl travel plans.
The building strain on lawmakers to end the impasse was magnified by the
nation's largest federal employee union, which called on Congress to
immediately pass a funding bill and ensure workers receive full pay.
Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government
Employees, said the two political parties have made their point.
"It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown
today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship," said Kelley, whose union
carries considerable political weight with Democratic lawmakers.
Still, Democratic senators, including those representing states with
many federal workers, did not appear ready to back down. Virginia Sen.
Tim Kaine said he was insisting on commitments from the White House to
prevent the administration from mass firing more workers. Democrats also
want Congress to extend subsidies for health plans under the Affordable
Care Act.
“We’ve got to get a deal with Donald Trump,” Kaine said.
But shutdowns grow more painful the longer they go. Soon, with closures
lasting a fourth full week as of Tuesday, millions of Americans are
likely to experience the difficulties firsthand.
Shutdown's impact is set to grow dramatically
The nation’s 1.3 million active-duty service members are at risk of
missing a paycheck on Friday. Earlier this month, the Trump
administration ensured they were paid by shifting $8 billion from
military research and development funds to make payroll. But it is
unclear if the Trump administration will be willing — or able — to shift
money again.
Larger still, the Trump administration says funding will run out Friday
for the food assistance program that is relied upon by 42 million
Americans to supplement their grocery bills. The administration has
rejected the use of more than $5 billion in contingency funds to keep
benefits flowing into November. And it says states won't be reimbursed
if they temporarily cover the cost of benefits next month.
The Department of Agriculture says the contingency fund is intended to
help respond to emergencies such as natural disasters. Democrats say the
decision concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known
as SNAP, goes against the department's previous guidance concerning its
operations during a shutdown.
“The administration is making an intentional choice not to fund SNAP
this weekend,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York.
“The emergency funding is there. The administration is just choosing not
to use it.”
Will lawmakers find a solution?
At the Capitol, congressional leaders mostly highlighted the challenges
many Americans are facing as a result of the shutdown. But there was no
movement toward negotiations as they attempted to lay blame on the other
side of the political aisle.
“Now government workers and every other American affected by this
shutdown have become nothing more than pawns in the Democrats’ political
games," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
The House passed a short-term continuing resolution on Sept. 19 to keep
federal agencies funded. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has kept the House
out of legislative session ever since, saying the solution is for
Democrats to simply accept that bill.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., meets with reporters
near the closed House chamber on day 24 of the government shutdown,
at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/J.
Scott Applewhite)
But the Senate has consistently fallen short of the 60 votes needed
to advance that spending measure. Democrats insist that any bill to
fund the government also address health care costs, namely the
soaring health insurance premiums that millions of Americans will
face next year under plans offered through the Affordable Care Act
marketplace.
Window-shopping for health plans delayed
The window for enrolling in ACA health plans begins Saturday. In
past years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has
allowed Americans to preview their health coverage options about a
week ahead of open enrollment.
As of Monday, Healthcare.gov appeared to show 2025 health insurance
plans and estimated prices, instead of next year’s options. CMS was
expected to temporarily bring back all its workers furloughed during
the shutdown, in part to manage the ACA open enrollment period.
Twenty-eight senators, mostly Democrats, signed onto a letter urging
Trump’s administration to let ACA enrollees start previewing next
year’s health insurance options on its marketplace website.
Republicans insist they will not entertain negotiations on health
care until the government reopens.
“I’m particularly worried about premiums going up for working
families,” said Sen. David McCormick, R-Pa. "So we’re going to have
that conversation, but we’re not going to have it until the
government opens.”
Congressional leaders dig in deeper
Schumer said Republicans would prefer to shut the government down
than work with Democrats in preventing massive spikes in their
health insurance costs. He said the average American doesn’t want to
pay an extra $20,000 a year to cover their health insurance.
“And we Democrats want to solve this crisis right away,” Schumer
said. “So lowering health care is not a crazy demand.”
Vice President JD Vance was planning to visit a Republican luncheon
on Capitol Hill Tuesday. But with President Donald Trump on a
three-country Asia tour and congressional leaders dug into their
positions, a quick deal appeared unlikely.
Meanwhile, some rank-and-file lawmakers urged their colleagues to
consider the impact of their standoff on the lives of federal
employees and Capitol police officers who are have not been paid for
weeks.
“We have got to come together, which means we’ve got to talk to one
another,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, said in a floor
speech urging leaders to stop focusing on who was winning the
political fight.
“Right now, those that are losing are the American people,” she
said.
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Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Marc
Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.
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