The shutdown, that broke the record for the longest time in U.S. history has left many Americans wondering when exactly the government will reopen its doors.
Even lawmakers on Capitol Hill don’t have an answer.
Even though they exist were cross-party negotiations No agreement was reached in the Senate that would satisfy both parties. Democrats have called for an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. They have repeatedly prevented a Republican stopgap measure that would fund the government through Nov. 21 from advancing to the upper chamber.
However, there are a few variables that could change the course of the shutdown fight. These include the return of House Democrats, President Trump’s decision to reach a deal with lawmakers on the other side, or the Democratic centrist’s agreement to reopen the government as the shutdown deepens.
Whether and when these variables play a role remains a mystery. Here are five unanswered questions in the shutdown fight.
What pain point ultimately concerns the legislator?
So far, none of the expected stress points or deadlines — including missing paychecks from federal workers, flight delays and the unrest over food aid — have moved lawmakers to act.
The Trump administration has so far found money to pay military members and fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
But there could be more pain to come.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designated 40 “high-traffic airports.” the country to reduce their Flight operations fell 4% on Friday as air traffic controllers work unpaid and there are staffing shortages at air traffic facilities. The figure could rise to 10% by Nov. 14 if the funding shortfall continues, the FAA said. Hundreds of flights were canceled on Friday as airlines complied with the directive.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), himself was stranded in DC. on Oct. 30 due to a flight delay, he told reporters expected air travel will get even worse in the coming weeks.
The millions of Americans who have not yet received Full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November could also be an issue on lawmakers’ minds, especially as many families go hungry and the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
A federal judge on November 6th ordered the The Trump administration wants to make full SNAP benefit payments to states by Friday, rejecting the administration’s plan to provide partial payments without using additional funds. However, Supreme Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on November 7 temporarily halted the order, which the government said was “indefensible in every respect.”
And while the federal government was able to pay the military’s last two paychecks, it’s unclear whether it will be able to come up with the money to pay military members on November 15th.
Is Trump getting involved?
Democrats agree that Trump is the only one who can reach an agreement to end the shutdown. But so far he has only increased the pressure on his own party and blamed the Democrats for the crisis.
The Trump issue is crucial for Democrats, who simply don’t trust Republican leaders to abide by an agreement the president hasn’t signed.
He last met with all four members of Congress on September 29 and has largely focused on foreign policy issues during the shutdown.
Trump called on Republican senators during a Meeting at the White House on November 5th to eliminate the filibuster, the 60-vote hurdle that minority Democrats are using to block Republicans’ stopgap spending bill. However, several Republicans rejected the idea.
“I think if we went to a simple majority system, we would be very sorry,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) wrote a letter to Trump on November 5 and demanded a meeting with him. Trump ignored the letter.
The growing pain of the shutdown — as well as recent polls — could potentially persuade Trump to negotiate with Democrats at some point. Trump said this during the November 5th meeting The shutdown was partial Blame for Republican losses in non-2025 elections.
Numerous surveys I’ve noticed that the most too Americans blame Trump and the Republicans for the shutdown.
When will the Democrats switch off?
Democratic progressives have urged their centrist colleagues not to back down in the fight over the shutdown.
In March, some centrist Democrats in the Senate suffered a setback after voting to advance a Republican stopgap measure to fund the government. Those senators included Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).
Schumer in particular suffered from the Democrats’ anger.
This time, the Senate failed 14 times to push through an emergency solution from the Republicans. Only two Democrats — Sens. John Fetterman (Pa.) and Cortez Masto — and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), who caucus with Democrats, broke ranks and supported the measure.
And Democrats were emboldened to stick with their shutdown strategy after the party emerged victorious in the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia and the mayoral election in New York.
“Across the country, people are saying, ‘Please, Democrats, you haven’t been strong in the past. Stand firm now,'” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a progressive firebrand who caucuses with Democrats, said after the election.
Does Thune offer more?
Thune finds himself in a complicated position because any proposal he puts forward must appease Senate Democrats and members of his own party — and pass with Republicans in the House.
He had eyed it at first provide an emergency solution on the floor and attach it to a three-bill spending package — a so-called minibus — that was part of negotiations with Democrats. The deal too contain a promise a future vote on a health subsidy package.
However, Senate Democrats later decided to push for further concessions. Schumer offered a counterproposal that would include a one-year extension of ACA subsidies. Republicans quickly rejected the idea.
“Anyone who follows this knows this is a non-starter,” Thune said. “There is no option. Extending ObamaCare is a matter of negotiation. We will negotiate that as soon as the government opens up.”
It’s not clear whether Thune will offer Democrats anything beyond his initial proposal. It will all depend on how his talks with the minority party progress in the coming days.
When is the House of Representatives coming back?
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has kept the House out of session for more than a year month in an effort to set Pressure on Senate Democrats to support a Republican emergency solution.
Some Republicans have expressed concern about Johnson’s decision, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Greene said on ABC “The View” that it was an “embarrassment.”
“The worst thing I — I just can’t get over — is that we’re not working right now. And I’ve taken that criticism directly to the Speaker of the House, and we should be at work,” she said.
However, lawmakers are discussing a recent emergency solution to fund the government beyond November – which the House of Representatives would ultimately have to approve.
Johnson said during one Press conference on November 4th that the House of Representatives will meet again if the Senate passes a recent emergency solution.
Al Weaver, Alexander Bolton and Zach Schonfeld contributed to this report.
