Federal Government Shutdown Enters Historic 36th Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the federal government shutdown reaches its 36th day, it has officially become the longest continuous shutdown in U.S. history. This milestone surpasses the previous record set during President Donald Trump‘s first term.

Today, President Trump engaged with U.S. Senate Republicans over breakfast to discuss potential plans to reopen the government. However, there are currently no firm agreements in place. Speculation suggests that Congress will need to extend the current continuing resolution (CR) potentially until January 2026.

The ongoing shutdown has led to significant disruption, particularly within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Officers and contractors are leaving their positions as they go unpaid, which is expected to cause major slowdowns in airport operations nationwide. U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that certain airspace may be closed due to staffing shortages.

In a brief update, the Trump Administration announced that it has allocated $111 million to extend Essential Air Service (EAS) operations for rural and remote airports, but these funds are only available until November 18 and the source of the funding remains unclear.

As negotiations continue, the timeline for reopening the government remains uncertain. Holland & Knight will keep providing updates as the situation develops.