November 4 – 7, 2025

(Full coverage of domestic headlines, political updates, economic issues, and major national developments.)

November 4 2025

The Shutdown Deepens: U.S. Enters Fifth Week of Government Closure

Federal Workers Struggle as Negotiations Stall

By early November, the United States had entered the fifth week of a federal government shutdown, which began in late September due to a budget impasse between the Trump administration and Congress. November 4 brought continued hardship for federal workers, many of whom had missed multiple paychecks. Air traffic controllers, TSA agents, and national park employees were among those working without pay or placed on indefinite furlough.

Negotiations between Republican congressional leaders and the White House stalled again over disagreements concerning spending priorities — particularly over border security, federal education funding, and welfare programs. Economists warned that the shutdown could cost billions of dollars in GDP losses if unresolved before mid-November.

Growing Public Pressure

Across the country, frustration mounted. Thousands of workers joined demonstrations in Washington, D.C., and major cities demanding back pay and the reopening of government offices. The AFL-CIO and several federal unions filed emergency petitions asking the administration to classify more positions as “essential” so workers could return with pay guarantees.

Businesses and Services Affected

Small businesses that depend on government contracts and tourism also reported major revenue declines. Some national parks remained open but were operating without rangers, leading to mounting maintenance issues and safety risks.

The general sentiment on November 4 was one of exhaustion. Even though no major political breakthrough occurred that day, the consequences of the prolonged impasse were starting to ripple through transportation, food aid, and public confidence in Washington.

November 5 2025

Government Shutdown Becomes Longest in U.S. History

Historic Duration and Economic Toll

On November 5, the federal shutdown reached 36 days, officially becoming the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The previous record — 35 days in early 2019 — was surpassed. Analysts from the Congressional Budget Office estimated that tens of billions of dollars in productivity had already been lost, with long-term economic damage expected to persist even after the government reopens.

Essential services such as food inspections, national weather forecasting, and passport processing remained heavily disrupted. Public schools relying on federal nutrition programs were beginning to report shortages of key supplies.

Political Deadlock Intensifies

President Trump continued to insist that Democrats were blocking his fiscal reforms, while Democratic leaders accused the administration of “manufacturing a crisis” to force spending cuts. The Senate remained gridlocked, unable to pass temporary funding bills.

Public opinion polls from Reuters/Ipsos showed that 56 % of Americans blamed the White House, while 32 % blamed Congress. Both parties faced mounting pressure from their bases to find a compromise.

FAA Orders Flight Reductions Amid Air Traffic Crisis

Staff Shortages Force Drastic Measures

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a nationwide plan to cut air traffic by 10 % at 40 high-volume airports starting that weekend. This marked the first large-scale reduction in flight capacity due to a shutdown.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the decision was unavoidable: air traffic controllers had been working without pay for over a month, leading to fatigue, resignations, and safety risks. Some regional control centers reported losing up to 15 % of their staff to sick leave or early retirement.

Impact on Travelers

Airlines immediately began revising schedules, warning passengers of possible delays and cancellations through mid-November. Major hubs such as Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York were most affected.

Passengers stranded at airports expressed outrage as flight times ballooned and customer service centers remained understaffed. Airline unions called the situation “an avoidable disaster created by political dysfunction.”

Government Warning of “Mass Chaos”

In a press briefing, Secretary Duffy warned that if the shutdown extended further, parts of U.S. airspace could be temporarily closed. “We are approaching a point where flight safety may be compromised,” he said. “We cannot ask our controllers to continue under these conditions.”

By the evening of November 5, the FAA had confirmed that a gradual reduction—starting with 4 % of flights—would begin on November 7.

November 6 2025

Federal Judge Orders Full Funding for SNAP Food Assistance

Court Steps In to Protect Millions of Families

With the shutdown disrupting welfare payments, a federal judge in Rhode Island, John J. McConnell, issued a ruling on November 6 ordering the administration to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the month of November.

The Trump administration had planned to issue partial benefits due to limited operational funding, but the court found that plan unlawful, stating that food security is a “vital human right” protected under federal statutes.

The decision forced the Department of Agriculture to release emergency reserves to ensure that more than 40 million Americans could access food benefits without interruption.

White House Response and Appeal

The White House responded swiftly, filing an appeal to delay the ruling, claiming that the court had overstepped its authority during a budget impasse. However, social service organizations hailed the decision as a victory for low-income families.

Local food banks reported that without the judge’s intervention, they would have faced overwhelming demand within days.

Broader Context

The SNAP ruling underscored the growing humanitarian cost of the shutdown. Analysts warned that if federal assistance lapsed again in December, millions could face food insecurity over the holidays.

Trump Announces Major Deal to Cut Prices of Obesity Drugs

A Healthcare Move Amid Political Turmoil

On the same day, President Trump held a high-profile press conference announcing a new agreement with pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to lower prices on popular GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs, such as Ozempic and Mounjaro.

The deal included provisions to expand coverage through Medicare and Medicaid and to introduce new lower-cost oral versions by mid-2026. Trump described the move as a “revolution for American healthcare,” promising that patients could pay as little as $149 per month for the treatments.

Industry and Public Reaction

The pharmaceutical industry responded cautiously, emphasizing that the reduced prices were contingent on government approvals and production capacity. Health advocates praised the initiative but questioned the timing, calling it a political distraction from the ongoing shutdown.

Nevertheless, the announcement dominated health-policy headlines and drew both praise and skepticism from medical experts who noted the limited availability of the drugs even before the price cuts.

Nancy Pelosi Announces Her Retirement from Congress

End of an Era in American Politics

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a towering figure in American politics for nearly four decades, announced on November 6 that she would not seek re-election in 2026.

Pelosi, 85, cited a desire to “make space for new leadership” within the Democratic Party while pledging to remain active in mentoring younger members. She reflected on her legacy during a press conference in San Francisco, highlighting legislative achievements from the Affordable Care Act to infrastructure investments.

Bipartisan Tributes

Lawmakers from both parties issued statements of respect. President Trump, despite long-standing rivalry, called Pelosi a “formidable political opponent.” President Biden, in a written message, praised her “unmatched skill in legislating and leadership.”

Pelosi’s departure signaled a generational shift within Democratic ranks and raised questions about the party’s future leadership in the House.

November 7 2025

FAA Finalizes Flight Reductions as Shutdown Persists

Nationwide Implementation Begins

By Friday, November 7, the FAA’s flight reduction plan officially took effect, starting with a 4 % cut in domestic flights. The reductions were concentrated in congested airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson (Atlanta), O’Hare (Chicago), JFK (New York), LAX (Los Angeles), and Dallas-Fort Worth.

The move aimed to relieve pressure on air-traffic controllers and preserve safety standards as the shutdown showed no sign of ending. The agency warned that additional cuts up to 10 % could follow the next week if funding was not restored.

Passenger Frustration and Economic Fallout

Travelers faced cascading cancellations and long waits as airlines scrambled to adjust. The U.S. Travel Association estimated that the slowdown could cost the aviation sector over $1 billion in lost revenue per week.

Economists compared the crisis to the early 2019 shutdown, noting that prolonged disruptions in air travel could affect supply chains and consumer spending during the holiday season.

Political Repercussions

Congressional leaders from both parties expressed urgency in resolving the standoff. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the flight reductions “a national embarrassment,” while Republican lawmakers urged the administration to consider temporary funding measures to restore FAA operations.

Still, no legislative progress was made that day, leaving travelers, workers, and businesses caught in uncertainty.

Continued Fallout from the SNAP Court Ruling

Implementation Challenges

As the Department of Agriculture moved to comply with the Rhode Island court order, logistical hurdles emerged. State agencies struggled to restart electronic benefit transfers for millions of recipients within 48 hours.

Despite the challenges, advocates noted that food assistance lines began to shorten by the weekend as funds were gradually released.

Public Fatigue and Political Stalemate

A Nation Weary of Uncertainty

By November 7, polls showed that more than 60 % of Americans supported an immediate bipartisan deal to end the shutdown, even if it meant temporary compromises. Analysts warned that continued paralysis could erode trust in federal institutions.

Media commentary across the spectrum echoed a similar theme: the shutdown had shifted from a political standoff to a national endurance test. Ordinary Americans — from federal employees to travelers to parents relying on food aid — were bearing the brunt of Washington’s dysfunction.

Conclusion

Between November 4 and 7, 2025, the United States faced one of the most turbulent weeks in recent memory.
The government shutdown reached historic lengths, paralyzing public services and inflicting economic and social pain. The FAA’s unprecedented flight reductions disrupted national air travel, while a federal judge’s SNAP ruling revealed the growing humanitarian dimension of the crisis.

Amidst the chaos, President Trump attempted to project control through a high-visibility healthcare pricing deal, and Nancy Pelosi’s retirement marked the closing of a major chapter in U.S. political history.

As the week ended, Americans looked to Washington for signs of resolution — but none had yet appeared. Instead, the nation stood suspended between crisis management and political brinkmanship, waiting to see how long the deadlock would last.