Washington: The longest US government shutdown in history has plunged the nation into crisis, leaving federal workers unpaid, disrupting air travel, delaying essential food benefits, and straining international military operations. Now lasting 39 days, the impasse has intensified legal battles and forced allied nations to intervene financially.

Aviation chaos and controller strain

US air travel is facing mounting disruption as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reduces flights due to staffing shortages. On Saturday alone, more than 1,000 flights were cancelled, echoing Friday’s cancellations.

FAA reductions began with 4 per cent of flights across 40 targeted airports and are expected to reach 10 per cent by Friday. Charlotte, North Carolina, was hardest hit with 130 cancellations by mid-afternoon. Newark, Chicago, Atlanta, and Denver also faced multiple disruptions.

Ongoing shortages in control towers and radar centres, particularly near New York City, have worsened delays. Air traffic controllers have worked unpaid for nearly a month, often taking mandatory overtime six days a week, while some take second jobs.

“Travel is stressful enough. Then you put these disruptions in place and it really makes everything more challenging,” said Heather Xu, 46, flying home to Puerto Rico from Miami.

Many passengers managed to rebook flights quickly, and longer international travel remains largely unaffected. However, last-minute changes have proved costly, prompting some travellers to cancel flights or rent one-way cars.

SNAP benefits caught in legal limbo

Nearly one in eight Americans depend on monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, but the shutdown has left millions uncertain.

Initially, the Trump administration refused to fund November SNAP benefits. A federal judge later ordered payment, but Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused this to allow an appeals court review.

Key impacts include:

  • 42 million Americans rely on SNAP, mostly with incomes below the poverty line, receiving up to USD 300 per month.
  • Payment delays have increased demand at food banks and pantries, causing long queues.
  • State disbursements are inconsistent. In North Carolina, more than 190,000 households received USD 16 or less.

Some states such as Hawaii, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Washington issued full payments promptly, while Colorado still has over 560,000 recipients waiting.

Governor Dan McKee of Rhode Island described the situation as “inhumane”: “The President has intentionally created chaos for states across the country — playing games with people's ability to feed their families, weaponizing hunger, and gaslighting the American people.”

Overseas base workers left unpaid

Thousands of local employees at US military bases in Europe are unpaid, performing essential roles in construction, logistics, food service, maintenance, and specialised operations.

Germany has paid nearly 11,000 local staff at US bases, including Ramstein Air Base, expecting reimbursement later.

Italy and Portugal continue without paying some staff. Italy’s union coordinator Angelo Zaccaria warned about workers struggling to pay mortgages or fuel costs.

At Portugal’s Lajes Field, over 360 staff are unpaid; the Azores government provided a bank loan to cover interim salaries.

The Pentagon commented: “We value the important contributions of our local national employees around the world.”

Political deadlock in Washington

Negotiations continue over the weekend, with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits the main sticking point. President Donald Trump labelled the ACA “the worst Healthcare anywhere in the world” and remains unlikely to compromise.

Moderate Democrats, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., propose partial government funding and delayed health care votes. Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., refuse a firm health care vote commitment. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., considers a bipartisan package similar to the moderates’ plan.

Trump and Vice President JD Vance urged scrapping the Senate filibuster to end the shutdown, but Republican leaders rejected this.