Key Highlights
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune says talks to end the government shutdown have “ticked up significantly.”
- House Speaker Mike Johnson criticizes Democrats for causing pain and eating up time.
- CBO projects the shutdown could cost up to $14 billion in economic output.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits set to halt on Nov. 1st.
Government Shutdown Continues as Talks Show Slight Progress
The government shutdown, now into its 29th day, shows signs of movement according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune. Speaking at the Capitol, Thune stated that discussions aimed at ending the shutdown have “ticked up significantly,” suggesting a potential path forward. However, other Republican senators like Thom Tillis and Lindsey Graham remain cautious about the prospects for a breakthrough.
Thune emphasized that while there is increased conversation among rank-and-file senators, Democratic leadership remains inflexible.
Thune stated, “There are a lot of rank-and-file members that continue, I think, to want to pursue solutions and to be able to address the issues they care about, including health care, which we’re willing to do, but it obviously is contingent upon them opening up the government.” He added, “Let’s just hope that the conversations continue. There is a possibility that enough moderate Democrats could support ending the shutdown.”
House Speaker Johnson Criticizes Senate Democrats
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Senate Democrats for causing significant pain to American families and eating up time. Johnson said, “Wouldn’t that be a futile exercise, when we have a CR that’s been sitting over there since Sept. 19? If I brought the House back and we passed another CR it would meet the exact same fate from Chuck Schumer.
He would mock it, they would spike it and they would try to blame it on us.” He further stated, “There is no point in me sitting down with Chuck Schumer. He’s painted himself into a corner.”
Economic Impact of Shutdown Estimated
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has projected that the ongoing government shutdown could cost up to $14 billion in economic output over eight weeks, according to an analysis sent to House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington. The CBO found that real GDP growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 would be 1 to 2 percentage points lower than it otherwise would be, depending on how long the shutdown lasts. Most of this lost output is attributed to delayed pay for furloughed federal employees and paused contracts. The agency warned that a portion of the lost output, primarily hours not worked during the lapse, will not be recovered.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program at Risk
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is set to halt benefits on November 1st due to the ongoing shutdown. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated that the Trump administration does not have legal authority to keep food assistance flowing during the shutdown and that it would cost about $9.2 billion to fully fund SNAP next month. She said, “We’re trying to follow the law here.
We’ve used Band-Aid and duct tape all along this whole last month. And as we’ve said, it’s not going to be there on November 1st.”
The article concludes with updates from various senators and representatives, including Graham, Tillis, Schumer, Warren, and Johnson, reflecting the ongoing negotiations and political strategies in play.
