Federal Shutdown Hits Travelers and Food Stamp Recipients Hard

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The ongoing federal shutdown is causing chaos across the country, affecting millions of Americans and raising fears of an economic downturn. On Friday, over a thousand flights were canceled and thousands more delayed, leaving frustrated travelers scrambling to adjust their plans.

With the Trump administration resisting full payments for food stamps in November, many recipients find themselves uncertain about when they will receive assistance. Federal workers are also reporting financial strain as their paychecks vanish during the deadlock.

As Congress remains divided, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., stated that efforts to reach a compromise with Democrats have stalled. He urged his colleagues to stay in Washington for additional voting sessions this weekend. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mentioned that Democrats are willing to negotiate a solution in exchange for an extra year of expanded health insurance funding.

Concerns about the shutdown’s long-term effects on the economy intensified on Friday, with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett claiming the situation is deteriorating faster than expected. He highlighted potential negative impacts on economic growth if the shutdown drags on. “If we go another month or so, then who knows how bad the economy could be this quarter,” he told Fox Business.

Travel disruptions were particularly notable at LaGuardia Airport in New York, where the Federal Aviation Administration imposed a 4% reduction in domestic flights starting Friday due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. Major airports, including Washington’s, Atlanta’s, and San Francisco’s, experienced significant delays as control towers operated with fewer staff.

Travelers expressed their anxiety over potential disruptions. Alicia Leva, who is set to marry in South Florida, fears that her wedding plans are crumbling as guests struggle to reach their destination. “When I found out about the flight delays, I was just incredibly anxious,” Leva said.

Another traveler, Jay Curley, was forced to abandon his Newark to Wilmington flight in favor of a rental car. “People are really hurting out here,” he remarked. “It’s not just the traveling public, but it’s affecting the whole economy.”

Meanwhile, Luana Griffin, who plans to fly from San Diego to Sacramento to visit her terminally ill mother, expressed her distress over the potential for flight delays that could affect her ability to see her mother. “This is the last thing I need,” she said.

In regard to food assistance, a federal judge recently ruled that the administration must provide full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November to over 40 million Americans. US District Judge John McConnell emphasized the serious consequences of partial payments. The USDA responded by promising to comply with the court decision, but the Supreme Court later issued a hold on this requirement, adding more uncertainty for food stamp recipients.

Zacherie Martin, a SNAP recipient from Bremerton, Washington, expressed concern about the looming possibility of insufficient food, stating, “I’m worried if I’m going to even be able to eat at all before Thanksgiving.”