With The Government Shutdown In Its 4th Week, Federal Workers Go Unpaid, Food Benefits & Healthcare Subsidies Teeter On Collapse, Senate Democrats Remain Entrenched Behind Their Radical Flank
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 5:35 P.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON, DC.- The federal government shutdown has reached its 25th day, and what many are now calling “The Schumer Shutdown” shows no sign of resolution as Senate Democrats continue to block a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government. The political standoff has left an estimated 1.4 million federal employees without pay, strained key public assistance programs, and intensified chaos across transportation and healthcare systems.
According to the Office of Management and Budget, to date, this marks the second-longest shutdown in more than two decades. Federal workers from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to the Internal Revenue Service have missed two consecutive paychecks, with several unions warning of mass resignations and protests if no agreement is reached soon. Meanwhile, food assistance programs are nearing a crisis point: the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that nearly 40 million Americans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will see payments suspended early next week if the impasse continues.
Adding to the mounting pressure, Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies are set to lapse at the end of this week, potentially affecting over 10 million Americans who rely on the subsidies for affordable coverage. Health policy analysts warn that without an immediate funding extension, the insurance markets could see significant disruptions as early as next month.
Transportation networks are also straining under the shutdown. With air traffic controllers and TSA agents working without pay, flight delays across major hubs, including Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago, have increased daily. The Federal Aviation Administration has reported a 26% rise in nationwide flight disruptions compared to the same time last year.
Despite growing public frustration, Senate Democrats have remained firm in their opposition to the GOP-led continuing resolution, which would have fully funded the government through November 21, 2025. Republican leaders accuse Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of prioritizing partisan politics and the demands of his party’s far-left base over the welfare of the American people.
“The President and House Republicans have delivered a clean funding bill that pays workers, protects families, and keeps our nation secure,” a senior White House official said Friday. “It’s Senate Democrats who are holding the government hostage.”
That assessment appeared to gain new traction this week when House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) publicly endorsed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a far-left state assemblyman closely aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. The move has sparked internal criticism from moderate Democrats, who fear the party’s leadership is increasingly beholden to its most radical elements. Political strategists now speculate whether Schumer himself will follow suit, risking further alienation from centrist voters in his home state.
Polls show Democratic approval ratings slipping sharply amid the shutdown, with a new Rasmussen survey reporting that 57% of likely voters blame congressional Democrats for prolonging the crisis. By contrast, the White House’s insistence on passing a “clean” funding bill without policy riders has resonated with independent voters seeking stability and resolution.
With crucial programs on the verge of collapse and bipartisan negotiations stalled, Washington is bracing for a weekend of protests, missed paychecks, and growing public anger. For now, the political pressure appears to be mounting squarely on Senate Democrats to end what many have dubbed “The Schumer Shutdown.”
Editor’s Note:
This report is based on official data from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Agriculture, and the Federal Aviation Administration as of October 25, 2025. Political analysis draws on polling and public statements verified by nonpartisan media outlets. Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, Englebrook Independent News.