ICYMI: Western Montana News: Major Flight Delays Coming as Shutdown Sets Historic Record

• November 5, 2025

U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines spoke with Western Montana News about the consequences of the Schumer Shutdown. Read highlights from the story below.

Daines: Major Flight Delays Coming as Shutdown Sets Historic Record

Western Montana News

Roy McKenzie

November 4^th, 2025

Senator Steve Daines warned Tuesday that major airline disruptions are imminent as what he calls the "Schumer Shutdown" reached day 35, setting up to break the all-time record for longest closure in American history.

Speaking exclusively with Western Montana News hours after Democrats blocked the 14th attempt to reopen the government, Daines said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is warning of significant flight delays starting next week.

"Secretary Duffy, the Secretary of Transportation, is warning today there are going to be major flight delays starting next week," Daines said. "We're already starting to see delays in major airports, but this is going to continue to cascade and have a domino effect, and we're going to see significant disruptions for the flying public next week."

…During the Tuesday afternoon interview, Daines confirmed the vote count had just increased from 13 to 14 blocked attempts by Senate Democrats.

"We just moved from 13 attempts to actually 14 a few hours ago. We put the same bill on the floor, and they once again blocked it," Daines said. "Keep in mind, this is the exact same clean CR that Democrats voted for when Biden was president."

The Montana Republican suggested Democrats strategically wanted to maintain the shutdown past Tuesday's major elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City to motivate their base.

"We knew they wanted to keep the government shutdown pass today, because you have big elections in Virginia and New Jersey for governor, and then, of course, that big mayor race in New York City, and they want to keep their far left base ginned up and motivated to turnout and vote," Daines said.

Wednesday will mark day 36 of the shutdown, officially setting the record for longest government closure in American history, surpassing the 35-day shutdown that occurred during Trump's first term.

"Every day this shutdown drags on, it only gets worse for many Montana families," Daines said. "It's insanity that this shutdown has dragged out into November, ahead of the holiday season."

The senator placed responsibility squarely on Senate Democrats: "You can't shut the government down and use that as a hostage or leverage when you don't like a particular outcome or policy from an administration."

Read the full article HERE.

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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins