The federal government is currently experiencing its second-longest shutdown. This comes after Congress has persistently failed to pass a temporary funding bill. The current shutdown is just days away from surpassing the record set during the 2018-2019 shutdown, which lasted 35 days during President Trump’s first term.
On Sept. 19, the House passed a measure to fund the government until Nov. 21, but it did not pass in the GOP-led Senate on the same day. Since funding lapsed on Oct. 1, the Senate has held several votes, yet Republicans have struggled to gain enough support from Democrats to move the bill forward.
Here’s a breakdown of the government shutdown by the numbers:
13: The number of failed Senate votes aimed at ending the shutdown
Since the shutdown began on Oct. 1, the Senate has attempted to vote 13 times on a House-approved resolution to fund the government through Nov. 21. The Senate comprises 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats. With all senators present, there have been 55 votes in favor of the funding, which falls five votes short of the 60 required to advance the bill.
While a simple majority is typically sufficient for passing legislation in the Senate, the filibuster rule mandates that most bills, including those for temporary government funding, must achieve a 60-vote threshold. Any single senator can invoke a filibuster to delay discussion on a bill, which can only be concluded by a supermajority vote of 60 senators.
52: Senate Republicans backing the resolution to fund the government and conclude the shutdown
43: Senate Democrats/independents against it, in addition to 1 Republican
3: Senate Democrats/independents in favor of the resolution
Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, along with independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, voted with Republicans in support of the measure.
5: Senators who need to change their votes to help advance the resolution
“We need five Democrats to demonstrate some courage,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune remarked on Oct. 23, one day after yet another failed vote. “Reopen the government so we can get back to work.”
42 million: Individuals set to lose food stamp benefits on Nov. 1
Approximately 42 million Americans depend on food stamps distributed monthly via electronic benefit transfer cards, according to USDA data. However, on Nov. 1, these benefits are expected to cease due to the ongoing government shutdown. On Oct. 28, 25 states petitioned a federal judge in Massachusetts, seeking an order for the Agriculture Department to continue distributing benefits for November, potentially utilizing a contingency fund.
They argue that terminating food stamp payments is unlawful and would deprive millions of essential food support, exacerbating food insecurity and hunger.
$9.2 billion: Estimated cost of sustaining food stamps for November
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins estimates it would require about $9.2 billion to keep SNAP benefits functioning next month. The Agriculture Department’s contingency fund currently holds around $5 billion, which Rollins claims the administration cannot legally utilize.
Some bipartisan lawmakers have advocated for separate legislation to fund SNAP.
At least 670,000: Federal employees furloughed since the shutdown started
The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates that at least 670,000 federal workers have been furloughed. The Congressional Budget Office projected last month that compensation for furloughed staff amounts to about $400 million daily.
About 730,000: Federal employees who are working without pay
Essential government employees remain on the job without pay. Approximately 730,000 workers fall into this category, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Over 4,000: Federal workers targeted for layoff during the shutdown
On Oct. 28, a judge prohibited the Trump administration from dismissing federal workers due to the shutdown while legal challenges are underway.
By mid-October, the administration had already issued layoff notifications to over 4,000 federal employees across seven agencies.
Here are the approximate figures:
$130 million: The anonymous donation Trump claims to assist military pay
President Trump announced that a “patriot” donated $130 million to help cover military paychecks, which typically get interrupted during shutdowns. According to The New York Times, the donor is Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire from the Mellon banking lineage.
However, that sizeable donation may not fully meet the military’s payroll requirements. With approximately 1.3 million active-duty members, the donation equates to around $100 per service member.
At least $7 billion: The anticipated economic impact of the shutdown
The shutdown could temporarily reduce the nation’s economic output by billions, as unpaid public workers cut back on spending and SNAP benefits are halted. The Congressional Budget Office speculates that a four-week shutdown may result in a 1-percentage-point GDP loss, while an eight-week shutdown could lead to a 2-point decrease.
While some of the economic downturn would recover after reopening, a sustained GDP drop of $7 billion is expected following a four-week shutdown, $11 billion after six weeks, and $14 billion after eight weeks, according to the CBO.
