Over 1 Million Unpaid; Airports Facing Delays

The federal government shutdown has stretched into its fourth-to-fifth week with no sign of a congressional deal, leaving more than one million federal employees without full pay. The lapse in pay has forced many workers to rely on food banks, sell belongings, take part-time jobs or file for unemployment, and some states and localities — including Maryland — are offering measures such as deferred state tax payment plans to help. Airports nationwide are suffering mounting delays and cancellations as air traffic controllers and TSA staff call out or are strained by the lapse in pay. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that mid‑month and early‑November military paychecks are at risk unless a funding deal is reached, and the administration has reallocated Pentagon funds and accepted private donations to cover some troop pay. Political negotiations remain stalemated: the Senate has repeatedly failed to advance a continuing resolution while Democrats press to protect expiring Obamacare subsidies and Republicans push for a clean CR ahead of key early‑November deadlines.