The content is too big for 300 words, and Google Gemini was used to research this piece. This Essay was posted on 11/12/2025.
The Senate passed a compromise version of the continuing resolution that included concessions to the 8 Democrats that negotiated with the Republicans. Republicans conceded to Democratic demands for more SNAP funding and a guarantee of back pay to the furloughed workers as well as a guarantee to rehire those workers that were fired. The Democrats did not get extended subsidies for Obamacare or reversal of other healthcare cuts. The deal is not popular with most Democrats, but the issue is very complicated.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s proposal to extend Obamacare credits for one year has issues. The extensions wouldn’t run out until after the 2026 elections, enough time to lull MAGA followers into a false sense of health security. And there is plenty of evidence that Trump wasn’t budging on healthcare cuts. And the Epstein files are still an issue. Mike Johnson’s efforts to avoid swearing in Democrat Adelita Grijalva support the notion that the shutdown is all about the Epstein files.
Mike Johnson is convening the House to vote in the resolution. The bill is being discussed on the floor, and Democrats are recommending changes. As I write this at noon on Wednesday, the future is still up in the air.
With all the commotion around the House vote, people may be forgetting the air traffic controllers working for a month without pay. Enough controllers called in sick, leading to safety problems and canceled flights at the major airports. The airport problems were getting bad enough that the 2 Senators from Nevada joined other Democrats in the shutdown negotiations over fears that Las Vegas airport issues would hurt Las Vegas business.
Prior to Trump’s 2018 shutdown, with the exception of 2 cases, shutdowns lasted 1 to 6 days. The two exceptions lasted 16 and 21 days. A shutdown of 35 days or more is exceptionally and probably not anticipated in the Antideficiency Act, last updated in 1982, that established the rules for a shutdown. The ADA did not anticipate a month-long shutdown and the subsequent harm to government workers and the people they served.
The air traffic controllers are a good example. As essential workers, they were forced to stay on the job with no pay, all according to the rules in the ADA. In addition to the controllers, airport customers were put in danger as fewer air traffic controllers reported for work and managing all the flights was getting too difficult. The Trump solution of canceling flights to accommodate the smaller airport staff was the wrong solution.
There should not be an extended shutdown again unless at least the essential workers are guaranteed pay throughout the shutdown. There should also be a time-limit of 1 week, and, if there is no agreement, the prior funding rules kick in automatically. Using the general welfare of the US citizens as a bargaining tool should stop. Congress owes us that much.
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