US Government Shutdown Hits Record 36 Days, Furloughs and Travel Chaos

The United States is now experiencing its longest-ever federal government shutdown, entering its 36th day amid a stalemate over healthcare funding and broader spending priorities. The prolonged shutdown is straining federal employees, disrupting public services, and affecting the broader economy.

Around 600,000 federal workers continue to work without pay, while roughly 650,000 more are furloughed. The Education Department's Office of Federal Student Aid has furloughed 85% of its staff, raising concerns over delays in FAFSA processing during peak college application season. Federal tax refunds, approvals for new products, and other essential services are also delayed.

Air travel is facing mounting disruptions as the Federal Aviation Administration struggles with staffing shortages. Air traffic controllers working without pay have taken unscheduled leave, causing widespread flight delays and cancellations across major airports, just weeks before the busy Thanksgiving travel period.

The shutdown has also affected public health monitoring. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has halted its FluView dashboard, leaving gaps in weekly influenza, COVID-19, and RSV tracking, while the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report has been paused, limiting data crucial for epidemiologists.

Economists warn the shutdown could leave lasting economic consequences. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if it continues for eight weeks, U.S. GDP growth could be reduced by up to 2 percentage points in the fourth quarter, with billions lost in output.

Food assistance programs are also disrupted. Only half of November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be distributed to 42 million Americans due to limited contingency funds, and officials have cautioned that recalculations could take weeks or months.

The political deadlock persists despite recent elections, where Democrats scored key victories in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries emphasized the party’s unified stance demanding a full government reopening. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson pointed to repeated Republican efforts to fund the government, accusing Democrats of obstruction.

With both parties entrenched, analysts suggest resolution may require strong voter pressure, a procedural maneuver in Congress, or extraordinary bipartisan compromise. President Donald Trump has urged Senate Republicans to consider the "nuclear option" to end the filibuster and pass a funding bill, but Senate leaders say support is insufficient.

As the government shutdown continues, Americans face growing uncertainty over critical services, financial stability, and public safety, with impacts expected to ripple well into the coming months.