US after 40 days of shutdown: Flight uncertainty rises, supply woes deepens and political costs escalate

Before the US Senate agreed to a deal on Sunday, the United States’ government had been shutdown for the past 40 days, the longest it has ever been. In the span of these 40 days, a whopping 750,000 federal employees were furloughed, food assistance for millions of Americans came at risk, and air travel was majorly disrupted across the country.

The shutdown began on October 1 after Republicans and Democrats in the US Senate failed to agree on spending priorities. The main point of contention was Republicans’ rejection of a push by Democrats to protect healthcare and other social programmes.

After 40 days, Senators of both parties came together and agreed on the first step to end the shutdown, with eight Democrats breaking ranks and coming to terms with the Republicans. Both sides agreed to support a package that would fund multiple agencies and programs for the full fiscal year, and all others until January 30, 2026.

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Here’s everything that happened during the 40 days of the government shutdown.

Flight disruption

The government shutdown caused major disruptions for the aviation industry, with staffing shortages among unpaid air traffic controllers. Over 1,500 flights were cancelled across the United States on Saturday, while thousands more were delayed as authorities ordered airports to reduce air traffic.

On Saturday, around 1,025 flights were cancelled, and the next day, 1,000 cancellations were logged. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that staffing shortages affected 42 control towers and other facilities, leading to delays in at least a dozen major cities – including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, New York and Chicago.

The disruption came during the holiday season. Reduced air traffic also took a hit on deliveries and shipping, since many commercial flights carry cargo alongside passengers.

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Threat to Snap

In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump said that he will restore only food aid once the government shutdown ends. “ SNAP BENEFITS, which increased by Billions and Billions of Dollars (MANY FOLD!) during Crooked Joe Biden’s disastrous term … will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government,” he wrote earlier this week on Truth Social.

The US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provide low-income Americans with roughly $8 billion a month in grocery assistance. The issue of who will provide funds to the program amid the shutdown even went to the federal courts and the Supreme Court. The average American individual benefit is about $190 per month, while a household receives around $356.

Obamacare still at risk

Democrats blamed the Republicans for the shutdown because the party refused to renew expiring healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Even on Sunday, the GOP Senate did not give a guarantee that the subsidies would be renewed after they expire on January 1.

Even after the deal is reached, Democrats are pushing for a one-year extension of the ACA subsidies, which mainly help people without employer or government health coverage buy insurance. However, with a 53–47 majority in the Senate, Republicans can block the proposal.

Over the weekend, Trump has been ranting about Obamacare on his social media platform. He went on to recommend an alternative to the program. “I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars currently being sent to money sucking Insurance Companies … BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE THEIR OWN, MUCH BETTER, HEALTHCARE, and have money left over,” he said.

Around 24 million Americans currently benefit from the ACA subsidies. Analysts warn that premiums could double by 2026 if Congress allows them to expire. While the Democrats could not garner the guarantee on Obamacare, they received commitment from the Trump administration to rehire government workers fired at the start of the funding lapse, and the promise of a Senate floor vote in December on legislation to extend expiring Obamacare tax credits. Hence, the future of obamacare remains uncertain.