Senate Prepares 14th Vote On “Clean” CR As Speaker Johnson Blames Democrats, Trump Administration Moves to Fund SNAP Amid Shutdown

Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 12:15 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

WASHINGTON, DC.- The federal government has officially entered Day 35 of the so-called “Schumer Shutdown,” tying the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The ongoing stalemate between congressional Democrats and Republicans continues to paralyze critical agencies, delay paychecks, and shake public confidence in Washington’s ability to govern.

     House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) delivered sharp remarks at a 10:00 a.m. press briefing, squarely blaming Senate Democrats for refusing to advance a clean continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House. “We did our job in the House; we passed a stopgap. The Senate Democrats must stop playing politics and vote to reopen the government,” Johnson declared. “There’s nothing standing in the way of reopening except the Democrats’ refusal. The longer this drags on, the worse the damage to Americans.”

Video Courtesy Of WCNC North Carolina

     The Senate is set to hold its 14th vote today on the same House-approved clean CR, which would temporarily fund the government through November 21st without policy riders. So far, Senate Democrats have blocked every prior attempt, and Senate Democrats will most likely block today’s vote, demanding roughly $1.5 trillion in additional spending on healthcare subsidies, climate initiatives, and entitlement expansions, conditions Republicans say have nothing to do with immediate government operations.

     Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air travel disruptions will worsen the longer the shutdown continues. “We are already seeing major staffing shortages,” Duffy told reporters Monday. “If we can’t ensure safety standards, we’ll be forced to slow or even suspend traffic at key airports.”

     The Trump Administration announced late on Monday and again today that it will partially fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using $5.2 billion in emergency reserves, but is far short of the over $9 billion needed. The White House said this temporary measure will maintain essential food-assistance benefits while negotiations continue, directly refuting Democratic claims that the President “wants Americans to starve.”

     Adding to the growing financial strain on Americans, healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, have skyrocketed nationwide, with many families reporting increases between 114% and 300% in their monthly premiums since the expiration of federal subsidy extensions. The subsidies, continued for years through Democratic-led spending packages, expired last month amid the shutdown. 

     Millions of middle-class families are now finding themselves priced out of coverage they once could afford. Economists warn that the lapse in subsidies, combined with inflationary pressures in the healthcare sector, has transformed what was once marketed as “affordable care” into a financial burden for working Americans. The administration has cited these rising costs as further evidence of the need for a complete overhaul of the nation’s healthcare system once the government reopens.

     Beyond Capitol Hill, frustration is mounting among federal-employee unions, many of which have issued public letters demanding that Senate Democrats “end the shutdown now.” Roughly 900,000 federal workers have been furloughed, and millions more continue to work without pay. Union leaders argue that continued political brinkmanship is inflicting “unnecessary financial harm” on American families.

     Republicans maintain that the shutdown’s root cause is Senate Democrats’ insistence on adding long-term spending increases and policy demands into what should be a short-term funding measure. Johnson told reporters that “Democrats are gaslighting the American people by calling this the Trump Shutdown when every attempt by Republicans to reopen the government has been blocked by Chuck Schumer’s Senate.”

     For now, the record-tying Day 35 marks a symbolic but grim milestone, underscoring both the gridlock and the deep partisan divides gripping Washington. With another failed Senate vote expected later tonight, there is still no clear end in sight.

Editor’s Note:

This article was prepared from verified reporting and public briefings held on November 4, 2025. Attribution includes Reuters, CBS News, Fox News, The Guardian, Yahoo News, and official statements from Speaker Mike Johnson, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Office of Management and Budget.
All facts are drawn from official government releases and major news outlets available as of publication. Englebrook Independent News will continue to provide timely and factual updates on the federal government shutdown and its effects on the American economy, healthcare, and federal workforce as new developments unfold in Washington; Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor, Englebrook Independent News.