The U.S. government shutdown has now entered its 38th day, marking the longest shutdown in the nation’s history. Lawmakers from both parties remain at an impasse over a funding solution, leading to increasing impacts across various sectors. As the shutdown continues, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding has been depleted, and air travel is facing delays due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. In recent developments, an appeals court has denied a request from the Trump administration to lift a judge's order mandating full funding for SNAP in November. As a result, several states have begun issuing benefits. As of Friday evening, nine states, including Kansas, Pennsylvania, and New York, reported that they had started processing SNAP benefits. On the Senate floor, a bill aimed at paying federal employees who are currently working during the shutdown failed to advance. The measure, introduced by Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, required 60 votes to move forward but fell short with a vote of 53-43. Notably, Democratic Senators Ben Ray Lujan, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock joined Republicans in support of the bill, while the remaining Democrats opposed it. The Senate session was marked by heated debate prior to the vote on Johnson's bill. He urged his colleagues to consider the implications of their votes on federal workers, stating, "Think about what your vote means to people that don't want to be used as pawns." Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, highlighted the strain on air traffic controllers due to the lack of pay, saying, "Yesterday I had a conversation with the administrator of the FAA. It was chilling." He added, "God, I hope it literally doesn't take planes falling out of the sky." In response, Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat from Michigan, expressed concern that the bill would misuse federal employees and grant excessive discretion to the administration regarding fund allocation. The frustration among lawmakers was evident, with Senator Pete Ricketts, a Republican from Nebraska, passionately stating, "Are the Democrats deaf? Do they not hear from the people that they are putting in these situations? This is their shutdown!" As the situation develops, the Senate is expected to continue discussions over the weekend, with both parties under pressure to reach a resolution. SNAP benefits are beginning to flow in six states, despite ongoing appeals, as the government shutdown continues to affect millions of Americans.