The federal government shutdown has now stretched into its 24th day with no clear path forward, as lawmakers remain deadlocked and the impacts on American families continue to escalate on multiple fronts.

The Senate adjourned yesterday afternoon after failing to reach an agreement to reopen the government, with members not scheduled to return until Monday evening. The lack of momentum on Capitol Hill has left negotiations completely stalled.

A bipartisan lunch held yesterday among lawmakers did not produce any breakthrough toward ending the shutdown, highlighting the deep divisions that persist between the parties.

SNAP benefits at risk for millions

The shutdown's effects are expanding beyond federal employees, with dozens of states announcing that SNAP benefits will run out on November 1 due to lack of government funding. This development threatens to leave millions of Americans without critical food assistance.

RELATED STORY | SNAP recipients brace for possible delay in benefits due to government shutdown

The looming SNAP crisis has created a difficult choice for Democrats on Capitol Hill. They must decide whether to continue fighting for Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, which expire at the end of this year, or vote to reopen the government to prevent the loss of food assistance programs.

If the ACA subsidies expire, millions of Americans could lose their health insurance coverage.

Lawmakers weigh difficult decisions

Senator Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, expressed concern about the potential SNAP benefit cuts affecting his state.

"In Illinois there are 1.9 million who receive SNAP and if we don't get this resolved by November 1st, there's questions whether they'll get any payment at all," Durbin said.

When asked if he would change his vote to reopen the government if SNAP benefits expire, Durbin remained noncommittal.

"We'll see," Durbin said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has downplayed the possibility of Democrats changing their position based on the SNAP deadline.

The prospect of millions of Americans suddenly losing access to critical food assistance during an ongoing shutdown raises questions about whether this development could shift the political calculus on Capitol Hill as the effects on the American people continue to worsen.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is not committing to putting a potential Senate compromise to reopen the government on the House floor, instead urging Democrats to accept a short-term funding measure already passed by the Republican-led chamber.

The House has done its job, Johnson said in an interview with Scripps News. All they have to do is pass the clean, continuing resolution, and then we can talk about all this substance. But I mean, I can't project the future of what would happen. The devil is always in the details."

Johnson insisted the continuing resolution a seven-week stopgap bill maintains existing spending levels that Democrats have supported in the past. He argued that Democrats are using the fight over Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year, as a red herring to delay action.

Those subsidies they're talking about expire December 31. What were talking about is a simple stopgap funding measure to keep the government in operation so that we can have those debates, he said.

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Johnson added, Theres nothing for me to offer in a negotiation.

Democrats say millions of Americans could face higher premiums if the tax credits lapse. Johnson countered that Republicans have already advanced legislation aimed at lowering health costs by cutting fraud and waste. He claimed Democrats are engaged in a political stunt to appease progressive voters, adding: Its really shameful because real Americans are being hurt in a shutdown.

The speaker also touched on other issues during his interview with Scripps News, including President Donald Trumps authorization of drone strikes against drug cartels. Johnson, a constitutional lawyer, defended the strikes, arguing the cartels are at war with us through fentanyl trafficking.

The president, the commander-in-chief, has a responsibility to protect the American people, and hes doing that very effectively, Johnson said.

Watch the full interview with Speaker Mike Johnson

Full interview: Speaker Johnson speaks with Scripps New about the government shutdown

The federal government shutdown will stretch into the weekend with no signs of a resolution as both parties remain entrenched in their positions on Capitol Hill.

Senate remains deadlocked

On Friday, the Senate voted on two separate continuing resolutions that would have reopened the government, one presented by Democrats and the other by Republicans.

Both measures failed to pass: The Democratic proposal, which would have also reverted changes to Medicaid that were made law in the "Big Beautiful Bill" earlier this year, was voted down 46-52. The Republican motion failed after a 54-44 vote, having not met the necessary threshold of 60 members in support.

Republican strategy faces continued resistance

House Speaker Mike Johnson has insisted there is nothing to negotiate and that Democrats should accept the short-term extension, which Republicans claim contains no "poison pills."

Johnson on Friday ordered a district work period from Tuesday, October 7 through Monday, October 13. This means the House will not return over the next week.

Health insurance costs could skyrocket without action

If the Affordable Care Act subsidies expire, Americans who get insurance through state marketplaces could see their premiums increase by an average of 114%, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that millions of Americans could lose their health insurance if the subsidies are not extended.

RELATED STORY | Blame game: At federal agencies, political messages fault Democrats for shutdown

Americans have had access to these enhanced subsidies since 2021, and their expiration could create significant financial hardship during open enrollment periods.

Trump administration threatens federal layoffs

The Trump administration continues to hint at potential layoffs of thousands of federal workers, a move that senators from states with high concentrations of federal employees view as a negotiating tactic.

Senator Chris Van Hollen called the potential layoffs "a mafioso demand" from President Trump. Democrats argue such layoffs would be illegal, though it remains unclear what they could do to prevent them beyond legal challenges.

Public opinion and political calculations

A Washington Post survey of 1,000 people found that 47% of Americans blame Republicans for the shutdown, while 30% blame Democrats. The Democratic base had previously criticized party leadership for not fighting harder during past shutdown negotiations.

Democrats may see political opportunity in the standoff, particularly if health care costs rise significantly for Americans. The party out of power typically performs well in midterm elections, and Democrats are hoping to retake control of both the House and Senate in 2026.

RELATED STORY | Vance: Federal government layoffs expected as shutdown drags on

Shutdown impacts expected to worsen

While the immediate effects of the shutdown have been limited, the impacts are expected to become more severe as it continues. Programs like WIC and federal worker paychecks could be affected if the shutdown extends into next week or beyond.

Both sides will need to find a face-saving way to end the standoff, though the longer it continues, the more painful it becomes for all involved.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.