Majority Leader | Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSR...Skip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNE×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUFacebookXInstagramFacebookXInstagramVisit Leader Thune's South Dakota Site Here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER THUNExxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board11.04.25Disarrayed Democrats Delay Flights and Jeopardize SNAPAs Democrats Attempt to Use Their Record-Setting Government Shutdown to Distract From Their Intraparty Divisions, Americans Are Feeling the Pain DISARRAYED DEMOCRATS ARE CAUGHT BETWEEN THE REAL-WORLD CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SHUTDOWN AND APPEASING THEIR RESTIVE PROGRESSIVE BASE“Democrats have been increasingly in the hot seat during this standoff, forced to reckon with the blowback they got from their base back in March when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led a handful of his members in advancing GOP-backed legislation to avoid a shutdown.” (Politico: ‘Utterly shameful’: Congress to crush US record this week for longest shutdown – 11/3/25)“The lapse of food benefits seems to be prompting soul-searching within the Senate Democratic caucus…” (HuffPost: Things Are Getting Real For Democrats As Food Cliff For Millions Approaches – 10/29/25)“A Democratic senator who requested anonymity to comment on the prospect of a deal this week said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) is eager to end the shutdown after funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits expired and the open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace started Saturday.” (The Hill: 8 Democrats sit at center of potential deal to end government shutdown this week – 11/3/25)“The senator said Schumer, who is under intense pressure from the party’s liberal base not to capitulate to Republicans, won’t vote for the House-passed bill to reopen the government[,] but he’s not going to crack down on moderate colleagues who change their positions and vote for it.” (The Hill: 8 Democrats sit at center of potential deal to end government shutdown this week – 11/3/25)Heading into the government shutdown, “Democrats [were] increasingly losing faith in their party and its leaders” – and progressives are still demanding that Democrats not “cave” and open the government: (Axios: Democrats' frustration with their party sees sharp increase, poll shows – 11/2/25)“67% of Democrats say they're frustrated with their party, up from about half in Pew polls from 2021 and 2019. Per the poll, most of the aggravation stems from a belief that congressional Democrats haven't pushed back enough against the Trump administration.” (Axios: Democrats' frustration with their party sees sharp increase, poll shows – 11/2/25)“Overall, three-quarters of Americans are frustrated with Democrats.” (Axios: Democrats' frustration with their party sees sharp increase, poll shows – 11/2/25)“If the Democrats cave now it would be a betrayal of the millions of Americans who have fought and died for democracy and our constitution… To surrender now would be an historic tragedy for our country, something that history will not look kindly upon.” – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)MEANWHILE, AMERICANS ARE BEARING THE BRUNT OF DEMOCRATS’ RECORD-SETTING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN“The federal government is now in its longest full shutdown ever,” and on Tuesday tied for the longest of all shutdowns. (Fox News: Government enters longest full shutdown in US history with no end in sight – 10/22/25; Politico: ‘Utterly shameful’: Congress to crush US record this week for longest shutdown – 11/3/25)“This shutdown is also proving to be more painful than past ones — not only because of its length but because Congress didn’t get any full-year spending bills signed into law before thrusting the federal government into crisis.” (Politico: ‘Utterly shameful’: Congress to crush US record this week for longest shutdown – 11/3/25)“The government shutdown is triggering a wave of closures of Head Start centers, leaving working parents scrambling for child care and shutting some of the nation's neediest children out of preschool.” (Associated Press: Some Head Start preschools shutter as government shutdown continues – 11/3/25)“Dozens of centers are missing out on federal grant payments that were due to arrive Nov. 1. Some say they'll close indefinitely, while others are staying afloat with emergency funding from local governments and school districts. The closures mean Head Start students — who come from low-income households, are homeless or are in foster care — are missing out on preschool, where they are fed two meals a day and receive therapy vital to their development.” (Associated Press: Some Head Start preschools shutter as government shutdown continues – 11/3/25)“According to the National Head Start Association, approximately 140 Head Start programs nationwide, serving roughly 65,000 children, will stop receiving federal funding beginning Nov. 1. In addition to educational support, Head Start also provides screenings, health and dental care and nutrition for children from low-income families.” (CBS News: Head Start programs begin to close as funding ends during government shutdown – 10/31/25)“The prolonged lapse in government funding continues to stress food banks, charities and nonprofits set up to assist Americans in need, with federal workers going without pay also turning to those sources for aid.” (CNN: Uncertainty persists for SNAP recipients, federal workers as shutdown drags on – 11/3/25)“‘The potential is absolutely devastating, cataclysmic, in fact, for the whole nation, not only people experiencing hunger, but especially them,’ Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, told CNN’s Jessica Dean on Saturday. ‘For every one meal that the charitable food system can provide, SNAP has been providing nine. That’s why I’m saying “cataclysmic.”’” (CNN: Uncertainty persists for SNAP recipients, federal workers as shutdown drags on – 11/3/25)“Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are reeling from the effects of a prolonged shutdown as it drags into its second month. At a food bank just outside Washington, DC, over the weekend, some became emotional as they described to CNN how the uncertainty of their pay and employment status has taken a toll on their finances and mental health.” (CNN: Uncertainty persists for SNAP recipients, federal workers as shutdown drags on – 11/3/25)AS DELAYS AND STAFFING SHORTAGES MOUNT, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND AIRLINES ARE BEGGING DEMOCRATS TO END THE SHUTDOWN“Flight delays linked to the ongoing federal government shutdown continue, with this past weekend marking the worst for air traffic control staffing shortages since the shutdown began, according to a CNN analysis of Federal Aviation Administration operations plans.” (CNN: Worst weekend for air traffic controller staffing since start of shutdown – 11/3/25)“Between Friday morning and Sunday night, there were 98 ‘staffing trigger’ reports at FAA facilities, meaning air traffic controllers had to alter operations to keep the airspace safe with fewer people working.” (CNN: Worst weekend for air traffic controller staffing since start of shutdown – 11/3/25)“Since the start of the shutdown, 393 facilities have reported a staffing trigger – roughly four times as many as were reported on the same dates last year.” (CNN: Worst weekend for air traffic controller staffing since start of shutdown – 11/3/25)“Air traffic controllers have been working without pay as the government shutdown continues. Many have, at least at times, called out sick to avoid working without compensation, and as a result nearly 50 percent [of] all major air traffic control facilities face staffing shortages, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.” (Politico: Sean Duffy says airport delays will continue as shutdown drags on – 11/2/25)“Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines called on Congress Thursday to reopen the U.S. government and pay air traffic controllers, with Delta urging senators to ‘immediately pass a clean continuing resolution.’” (CNBC: Airlines call on Congress to immediately end government shutdown, pay air traffic controllers – 10/31/25)“‘Airlines remain focused on preserving safety and trying to mitigate the operational impacts of this shutdown,’ Airlines for America said in a statement. ‘We are expecting a record holiday travel season; however, if the shutdown continues much longer, Americans will have to pack their patience and be prepared for more delays, unfortunately.’” (CNBC: Airlines call on Congress to immediately end government shutdown, pay air traffic controllers – 10/31/25)DEMOCRATS ARE DEMANDING WILDLY DIFFERENT THINGS TO END THEIR SHUTDOWN“Are they talking to our leaders? The leaders need to talk and figure this out. It’s what we’ve been saying all the way along.” – Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.)“Democrats have won a victory because we have demonstrated that we are fighting for health care for all Americans.” – Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)“What we would like is for them to restore it [ACA tax credits] forever. That was our original ask. I’m looking at compromises, would be 1-year or 2-year [extension]. Usually you don’t get everything you want in these things.” – Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.)“Complete funding, no rescission or impoundment, and extension of the health care tax credits beyond the end of the year.” – Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)“I'm not going to draw any red lines.” – Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.)“A vote that is designed to fail is just a guarantee that millions of people lose health care in this country. So I'm not looking for a vote. I'm looking for this problem to be solved.” – Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)“Right now, there’s some hand waving, but I haven’t seen a path that moves us toward restoring health care for millions of Americans. I don’t need a show vote. We need millions of Americans to be able to afford their health care.” – Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)Sen. Jackie “Rosen floats a vote on ACA and ‘a working group with benchmarks and objectives’ as a way to end shutdown.” (HuffPost’s Igor Bobic: post on X – 10/30/25)“‘My assessment is that we’ve won anything that we can possibly win and the costs of continuing the shutdown are going to be felt by people who are going to food banks and federal employees,’ said one Democratic senator, who requested anonymity to argue that any political benefit of extending the shutdown is about to be outweighed by the harms inflicted on ordinary Americans.” (The Hill: Senate GOP, Democrats looking for ‘off-ramp’ to end shutdown next week – 10/30/25)“Some Democratic senators are privately speculating that if their party does well in the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia scheduled for Tuesday, they can declare a political victory and begin to finalize the endgame for reopening government.” (The Hill: Senate GOP, Democrats looking for ‘off-ramp’ to end shutdown next week – 10/30/25)PrintEmailTweetPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER THUNEFacebookXInstagram
