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New month, same government shutdown. What's the latest to know about Day 34?

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, November 3rd 2025 at 8:07 GMT by USA Today

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U.S. Federal Government Remains Shut Down as of November 3, 2025 – A Growing Crisis of Service Disruption, Political Stalemate, and Public Frustration

The United States government is still operating under a partial shutdown as of the morning of November 3, 2025, a situation that has escalated into a full‑scale bureaucratic crisis affecting millions of federal employees, vital services, and the everyday lives of Americans. The shutdown, which began on October 29, has now entered its fifth day, with the congressional budget impasse showing no signs of resolution despite frantic last‑minute negotiations and public pressure.

What the Shutdown Means for Federal Services

The core effect of the shutdown is that many federal agencies are operating under “essential services” only. Employees in these agencies are either furloughed or required to work without pay, and the government has frozen federal spending on a host of programs. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), approximately 1.3 million federal workers are affected, including those in the Department of Homeland Security, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the United States Postal Service (USPS) (which has not been included in the funding package), and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Passport and Visa Delays – The Department of State has halted new passport applications, renewing only those that are urgent or for travelers with imminent international commitments. Visa processing for foreign nationals has also slowed dramatically, with many consular staff working on a “reduced‑capacity” schedule. A spokesperson for the State Department stated that the agency is “working as efficiently as possible given the constraints” but that the backlog will be “significant.”

Public Safety and Emergency Services – The U.S. Coast Guard, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security, has been unable to provide normal rescue operations because of budgetary restrictions. Although the Coast Guard is considered an essential agency, its funding for non‑essential services—such as environmental monitoring—has been curtailed. Firefighters and emergency medical responders across the country have reported shortages of supplies, as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is unable to distribute relief funds for disaster areas that have already been declared.

Education and Research – The Department of Education has halted the distribution of federal student aid for the current academic term. Students who rely on federal loans and grants have been instructed to seek state-level assistance. In addition, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has postponed new grant awards, jeopardizing research projects slated to begin in the spring of 2026. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has also delayed the release of new funding rounds for clinical trials, which could delay medical advances in areas such as oncology and neurodegenerative disease.

Congressional Dynamics and the Road to a Resolution

The root cause of the shutdown is a funding dispute over the 2026 fiscal year budget. The House of Representatives passed a budget resolution on October 22 that included a $4.5 billion increase for the Department of Education and a new $2 billion appropriation for the U.S. Space Force, but the Senate has rejected the resolution due to disagreements over the allocation of funds for the Department of Defense.

Senate Majority Leader’s Stance – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) issued a statement early in the morning that the Senate would not consider any spending bill until the House’s “complete and comprehensive” budget resolution is adopted. Schumer added that “the federal government’s survival is contingent upon the passage of this bill and that it reflects a bipartisan effort to keep essential services operational.”

House Negotiations – On the House side, Representative Kevin McCarthy (R‑CA) has been engaged in back‑and‑forth negotiations with Senate Democrats, particularly over the funding for the National Guard and the U.S. Postal Service. The House budget includes a controversial $2 billion earmark for the construction of a new “freedom center” in Washington, D.C., which some Senators have called “unnecessary spending.”

Public and Political Pressure – President Joe Biden has publicly urged both chambers to “get this done” before the holiday season. In a televised address on November 2, he pledged that any budget package must include funding for the pandemic relief program, which is set to expire at the end of the year. A key piece of the President’s plan is a $1.2 billion emergency supplement for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), aimed at covering shortfalls in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This supplement has been a sticking point for Republican lawmakers who argue that it amounts to “federal overreach.”

Impact on the Public

The shutdown’s ripple effect has been felt in countless everyday interactions with federal services. Citizens have reported longer wait times at DMV offices, reduced hours at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the closure of federal research libraries that serve both scholars and the public.

Economic Effects – According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the shutdown is projected to reduce the federal budget by $45 billion over the next three years, which will reduce government spending on infrastructure projects, thereby affecting the construction sector and related supply chains. The CBO also warned that a prolonged shutdown could trigger a recession, citing past shutdowns that have had lasting negative impacts on GDP growth.

Personal Stories – In the small town of Marlow, Tennessee, a federal employee who works as a clerk for the U.S. Forest Service has reported receiving a partial paycheck and dealing with anxiety over his future. He said, “It’s hard to plan for the future when you’re not sure if your next paycheck will be there.” Across the country, parents with children in federal schools—such as those served by the National Indian Education Program—have expressed frustration over the lack of funding for classroom resources.

The Path Forward

As of the latest developments on November 3, both chambers are holding “virtual hearings” to discuss amendments to the budget resolution. The House has approved a revised resolution that removes the controversial “freedom center” earmark and includes a modest increase for the U.S. Postal Service, which could be a bargaining chip to secure Senate approval. Meanwhile, the Senate has moved to a “pork‑barrel” amendment that would allocate $300 million for rural broadband projects, a move that is popular among rural constituents.

The President has indicated that he will sign any bipartisan budget package that preserves the core of the federal government’s operations. However, many political analysts predict that the next few days will be critical. If the two chambers cannot converge, the shutdown will continue into the holiday season, further straining public services and exacerbating the economic downturn.

In conclusion, the federal government’s ongoing shutdown on November 3, 2025 is a stark reminder of how political stalemate can translate into tangible hardship for ordinary citizens. The crisis underscores the urgency for Congress to resolve budget disputes, uphold essential services, and restore confidence in the nation’s democratic institutions. The coming days will be pivotal as lawmakers grapple with the complex interplay of fiscal policy, partisan priorities, and public expectations.