As the government shutdown continues, it is pushing toward key deadlines that could force action as negotiations between the House and Senate continue to falter. Yesterday, lawmakers seemed no closer to a solution as the Senate failed for the sixth time to overcome a filibuster on the House-passed seven-week continuing resolution, while a Democratic proposal to extend government funding and continue enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits also failed.
Notably, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has ruled out legislation to ensure active-duty military pay during the shutdown, meaning troops may miss their first paycheck on October 15th barring Congressional action. Other crucial deadlines include October 10th (funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration runs out), October 17th (federal courts run out of funding), October 20th (Senate staff miss paychecks), October 24th (federal workers miss paychecks), October 31st (House staff miss paychecks), and November 1st (the beginning of ACA open enrollment). The gridlock is mounting as tensions boil over among Republican leadership, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) struggle to project a united front, amid internal divisions over issues like back pay for furloughed workers and the extension of ACA subsidies.
As a further consequence of the shutdown, a growing number of major airports—including Reagan National in D.C., Philadelphia, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, San Francisco, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, and Boston Logan—are facing closures due to staffing shortages, while smaller airports risk losing commercial air service as funding for the Essential Air Service Program is set to expire this Sunday.