November 2025 Government Shutdown Update

November 2025 Government Shutdown Update

Nov 10, 2025

Congressional Update

The longest government shutdown continues, but recently the Senate took a crucial step toward reaching a deal. Late Sunday night, eight Democrats joined Republicans in a procedural vote to end debate and move forward to pass a legislative package that-if approved by the House-would end the shutdown.

The proposed package seeks to change the end date of the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to January 30, as well as approve a collection of three FY2026 appropriations bills (Agriculture, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Legislature) also known as a mini omnibus or minibus. It has also been reported that the Senate bill includes language that will reinstate federal workers who were fired during the shutdown and restates established law that those federal workers who were furloughed or forced to work without pay will receive their back pay following the reopening of the government.

Notably missing from the Senate deal is an extension of the expiring enhanced premium tax credits that help millions of Americans afford health care through their state exchange. These tax credits are the main sticking point for Democrats during this shutdown. While Sen. Thune has verbally agreed to vote on these tax credits after the government re-opens, there has been no similar agreement any Republicans will support such a bill, no assurance that the House will support the new CR or any healthcare tax credit extensions, or the appropriations minibus.

Late Monday morning, Speaker Johnson issued the call to members of the House to have them return to Washington, D.C. after nearly two months of being kept away. Members have 36 hours to return, which may be complicated by the flight cancellations and delays that are sweeping the country due to the shutdown.

Social Services Update

SNAP- Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have had to keep their heads on a swivel to catch every single update to learn whether they would see their November benefits. Our partners at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) published a blog about the chaos which highlights the legal battle between states and the Federal Government to issue full benefits. Over the period of November 6-8, states received guidance to issue full benefits as well as guidance to stop issuance as well as take back any previously issued benefits. Between the states, local governments, elected officials, and advocates who sued for full issuance of benefits to the Administration appealing decisions and filing motions to stall payments, each individual state is at a different place when it comes to whether SNAP recipients have benefits or not. FRAC created a tracker that shows the status of benefits in each state.

WIC-According to the National WIC Association, the minibus proposed by the Senate fully funds the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) as well as refills the contingency fund to the pre-shutdown level of $150 million. While this is a victory in the long term for WIC, the emergency funds used to keep the program running through the month are running low and the program will be up against another funding issue soon if the House and Senate do not end the shutdown.

Head Start- When the shutdown began in October, six programs were disrupted but that number went up to 140 in November because Head Start programs have different start dates for funding so the impact of the lack of funding will compound each month. According to a quote by the National Head Start Association, the November programs serve more than 65,000 children and families and they are doing everything they can do keep the doors open. Some Head Start programs have reserve funding but that will run out quickly and most programs will close by the end of the month without federal funding.

Conclusion

NASW will continue to track the shutdown and provide up to date information to our members, and to work within coalitions to communicate with Congress to end the longest shutdown in history in a way that moves the country forward and leaves no American behind.