Republican and Democratic lawmakers remain at a stalemate on finding a government funding solution to end what is now the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history.
The Senate on Thursday adjourned until Monday afternoon, which will mark the 34th day of the government shutdown.
Meanwhile, a federal judge has laid out a path for the administration to fund SNAP benefits, which ran out on Saturday, saying the administration could tap more than $5 billion in emergency funds, as well as a much larger pot of tariff revenue collected by the Agriculture Department to fund the program.
Vance will lead White House roundtable about shutdown impact on aviation workers
Vice President JD Vance will lead a roundtable at the White House on Thursday afternoon focused on how the shutdown is impacting aviation, according to a White House official.
Vice President JD Vance talks with reporters after attending the weekly Senate Republican policy luncheon on the 28th day of the federal government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol, October 28, 2025 in Washington.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Vance will be joined by the Transportation Secretary Duffy, Airlines for America CEO and former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, and other aviation industry leaders. Air traffic controllers missed their first full paycheck this week as the shutdown drags on.
Nick Daniels, president of the air traffic controllers union, warned that “layers of safety are being stripped away” because of the financial stress they’re under and “hundreds of air traffic controllers” are working second jobs.
-ABC News' Rachel Scott
Oct 29, 2025, 5:34 PM EDT
OMB finds $5.3 billion to pay the military
On the 29th day of the government shutdown, the White House has found a workaround to ensure that members of the military get paid on Friday.
The White House Office of Management and Budget found the $5.3 billion needed to pay military members, an OMB official confirmed to ABC News.
Here’s where it will come from:
$2.5 billion from a military housing fund specified in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" to continue paying housing allowances for military personnel.
$1.4 billion from the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation fund, which primarily will cover U.S. Army and Air Force payroll.
$1.4 billion from a Defense Department procurement account for building U.S. Navy ships, largely to fund the Navy and Marines.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie
Oct 29, 2025, 4:44 PM EDT
Thune boils over in frustration as he blocks Democrat bill on SNAP funding
In perhaps the most publicly tense moment of this 29-day standoff, Senate Majority Leader John Thune blocked an effort by Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan to move his bill that would have directed USDA to use its contingency funds to fund SNAP.
It was perhaps the most animated Thune has ever been on the Senate floor. He was at times shouting as he blocked the bill, which Lujan was attempting to pass unanimously. Thune argued that if Democrats want to fund SNAP and other programs, they ought to vote to reopen the government to fund all programs.
"Let me just point out if I might that we are 29 days into a Democrat shutdown. And the senator from New Mexico is absolutely right. SNAP recipients shouldn't go without food. People should be getting paid in this country," Thune said before escalating his voice to a full scream. "And we've tried to do that 13 times and you voted no 13 times!"
Reporters ask questions as US Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Republican from South Dakota, turns to enter his office at the US Capitol in Washington, October 29, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
"This isn't a political game. These are real peoples lives that we are talking about and you all have jut figured out 29 days in that oh there might be some consequences, that people are running out of money," Thune said.
Lujan's bill, co-sponsored by the whole Democratic caucus, would have directed USDA to use its contingency funds to provide funding for SNAP. It comes as 25 states have filed a lawsuit on the issue ahead of the halting of benefits at the start of November.
"The Trump administration has the authority and the funds to keep SNAP running during this shutdown," Lujan said. "Any failure to do so right now falls squarely on the Trump administration and Republicans."
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin
Oct 29, 2025, 4:32 PM EDT
House staffers will miss 1st paycheck of shutdown
House staffers received a notice on Wednesday stating that they will not receive their next paycheck scheduled for Friday, the first missed paycheck of the government shutdown, according to a notice obtained by ABC News.
"Due to the lapse in appropriations, the October 2025 monthly pay disbursement scheduled for a pay date of Friday, October 31, will be delayed until after funding is enacted," the notice states.
The U.S. flag is flies atop of the US Capitol on day 28 of the government shutdown, Oct. 28, 2025, in Washington.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Health and life insurance coverage will not be interrupted for House staffers, according to a separate memo from the House Chief Administrative Officer to staffers.
Meanwhile, House lawmakers do receive their paychecks during the shutdown -- though several have requested their pay be withheld.
