Government shutdown update: Senate stalls on 13th vote as SNAP deadlines loom and Democrats hold out for health subsidies

The federal government shutdown has entered Day 29 with the Senate failing yet again to advance a funding bill, intensifying pressure on negotiators as safety-net timelines and year-end planning collide. The latest government shutdown Senate vote—the thirteenth failed attempt—fell short on Tuesday night, keeping agencies in partial paralysis and setting up a volatile stretch through the weekend.

Why the government is shut down in 2025

At its core, the impasse began when Congress failed to approve full-year appropriations for the new fiscal year that started October 1, 2025. A stopgap bill collapsed amid disputes over spending levels, foreign-aid rescissions, and whether to extend or modify health-insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. That last item is now the fulcrum: Senate Democrats say they will not vote to reopen the government without an agreement to protect or restore premium assistance they argue is essential to prevent spikes in coverage costs. Republicans insist the Senate should first pass a “clean” funding bill and debate health policy afterward.

What Senate Democrats are doing—and why

In the latest cloture vote, most Democrats again opposed the Republican vehicle, calling it incomplete without the subsidy fix. A small group broke ranks, but not enough to reach the threshold. The caucus’s strategy is to link reopening the government with a pocketbook deliverable—lower premiums—rather than accept a plan they say merely postpones the fight. That calculation has hardened as constituent anxiety rises over SNAP and other programs.

What happens next if no deal is reached

• Food assistance: Contingency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are nearly exhausted. Without new appropriations, tens of millions could miss November benefits, with some states warning of disruptions starting this weekend.

• Federal workforce: Roughly hundreds of thousands remain furloughed and many more are working without pay. Back-pay legislation has been discussed but is entangled in the broader stalemate.

• Economic hit: A fresh nonpartisan estimate warns the shutdown could shave meaningful points off fourth-quarter growth and cost at least tens of billions in lost output if it persists.

• State actions: A coalition of state officials has moved to challenge the administration over the pending SNAP lapse, seeking emergency relief to keep payments flowing.

Inside the room: signs of movement, but not yet a breakthrough

Leaders from both parties say staff-level talks “ticked up” overnight, with two paths under discussion:

1. a short continuing resolution paired with a written framework on the health-subsidy question; or

2. a hybrid package that folds targeted health fixes into a lean funding bill to reopen agencies quickly.
   Either route requires a handful of cross-party votes. The sticking point remains sequencing and guarantees—Democrats want firmer language on subsidies; Republicans want an immediate reopening without policy riders they view as leverage tactics.

Government shutdown Democrats vs. Republicans: the message war

• Republican argument: The Senate has a ready bill to pay workers and fund agencies now; Democrats are keeping the government closed by insisting on add-ons. A growing chorus points to SNAP as an urgent reason to pass the bill on the floor and negotiate health policy later.

• Democratic argument: The current bill cuts or omits protections that would otherwise prevent premium spikes. Reopening without addressing that risk, they say, simply punts crisis onto families during open enrollment. Several Democrats frame the standoff as a fight over “lower costs,” not just process.

What federal employees and contractors should know today

• Pay status: Expect continued delays absent a new law. Track agency guidance on timekeeping, benefits, and leave; rules can differ between “excepted” and furloughed roles.

• Health coverage: Existing enrollments continue, but note premium-payment instructions if your paycheck is paused; missed deductions may need catch-up.

• Claims and contracts: Many grants, invoices, and renewals are on hold. Document deliverables and communications to streamline resumption once funds flow.

The political calculus from here

With the shutdown nearing the one-month mark, both sides face risk: Republicans carry the burden of governing the chamber and the White House agenda; Democrats face the optics of repeated no votes as benefits deadlines approach. The practical off-ramp most discussed on Wednesday: a brief CR (days, not weeks) with explicit health-subsidy contours, buying time to write the larger bill while preventing a SNAP shock.

Key dates and pressure points

• Oct 29 (today): Staff talks continue; leadership gauges whether there are 60 votes for a modified vehicle.

• Oct 31–Nov 1: States finalize SNAP payment files; without appropriations, many warn they cannot transmit November benefits.

• Early November: Debt-auction schedule and macro data prints start to reflect shutdown noise; agencies hit deeper operational constraints.

The government shutdown update is stark: thirteen Senate failures, sharpening deadlines for SNAP, and a narrowing window to shield consumers from higher health-insurance premiums. The path out remains the same two choices it has been for days—pair reopening with a defined health fix, or pass a clean funding bill and battle over subsidies later. Until one side yields on sequencing, the lights stay dim, the bills pile up, and the political costs rise for everyone involved.