Eight Senate Democrats have joined Republicans to break the filibuster

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The 2025 United States federal government shutdown, now in its 40-plus days and the longest in U.S. history, appears to be nearing resolution after the United States Senate advanced a funding deal that secured 60 votes.

• The deal would fund the government through January 30, 2026 and reinstate federal workers who were laid off, but it does not immediately resolve the much-fought issue of extending premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act marketplacesa sticking point for many Democrats.

• Even in the event that the deal becomes law, the shutdowns ripple effects are being felt across critical services: tens of thousands of flight cancellations and delays, major disruptions to food assistance programs, and scientific research furloughed or delayed.

The longest U.S. government shutdown in history may be ending. Eight Senate Democrats joined all Republicans in the chamber on a procedural vote to break the filibuster that had prevented a vote to pass a continuing resolution that contains no other spending provisions.

The government shutdown began on October 1, 2025 after Congress failed to enact appropriations legislation for the fiscal year. The core point of contention was whether to extend enhanced marketplace premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which Democrats insisted upon and which Republicans resisted.

The breakdown in negotiations triggered furloughs of hundreds of thousands of federal employees and forced many agencies to curtail operations or close altogether. By last week, it had also begun to impact air travel.

Whats in the deal

On Sunday, the Senate narrowly approved a continuing resolution and omnibus package that would:

• Authorize funding for federal agencies and departments until January 30, 2026.

• Reinstate federal employees who were laid off during the shutdown and guarantee back-pay for furloughed workers.

• Include full-year appropriations for key sectors (including Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, military construction).

• Promise a vote by mid-December on extending the ACA premium subsidiesbut with no guarantee of passage and no assurance from the United States House of Representatives that the measure will be brought to the floor.

However, the deal still faces hurdles in the House and then needs to be signed by the President to take effect. The House is currently on recess and political resistance remains sizable on both sides.

Impacts for consumers

Air Travel:

With the shutdown dragging on, staffing shortages in air-traffic control have forced the Federal Aviation Administration to cut flight operations. More than 2,700 flights were cancelled and 10,000 + delayed on a single day. For travelers, this means potentially major delays, cancellations, and uncertainty creeping into holiday travel plans.

In a move that extended the shutdown pain to the most wealthy, the FAA today began barring private aircraft at 12 of the nation's largest airports.

Food assistance and benefit programs:

The shutdown interrupted funding for critical food-assistance programs. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves some 42 million Americans, was ordered by the administration to reduce payments to roughly 65% of typical benefit levels, pending congressional action. States face pressure and legal battles over distribution.

For consumers who rely on these benefits, this means increased food insecurity and strain on local food banks or nonprofits.

Science, research and education:

Research funding, grant reviews, and agency operations have been delayed. For example, the National Institutes of Health and other scientific agencies are projecting recovery will take longer than the shutdown itself.

For families, students, and researchers, this results in uncertainty in university funding, scholarship administration and potentially slowed innovation.

What to watch

• Monitor the House vote: The Senate deal is just one step. If the House fails to approve funding, the shutdown could stretch further despite Senate action.

• Air travel planning: If you have flights booked, monitor airlines closely, consider flexible tickets, and be prepared for delays or changes even after a deal is struck because recovery will not be immediate.

• Check benefits eligibility and timing: For those on programs like SNAP, WIC, or other federal assistance, check with your states agency for updates on benefit amounts and timing. Unexpected cuts may arrive before full funding is restored.

• Be aware of lagging effects: Even when government funding resumes, agencies will take time to restart full operations. Expect slower approval processes, delayed announcements, and potential backlog in services.

• Political risk for future budgeting: Note that this deal is only a stop-gap through January 30. With a key issue (ACA subsidies) unresolved, another budget impasse remains possible. Consumers should remain vigilant about the risk of repetition.

What it means for you

For most consumers, government shutdowns may seem distant, but the ripple effects reach into everyday life: from flights being delayed to food-assistance benefits shrinking, from research being delayed to a backlog in federal services.

If the deal passes and the government reopens, relief will follow, but not overnight. Some services may still lag for weeks or months, and some benefits may be reduced or delayed in the interim.

Agency cites risks of botulism and counterfeit products

Airlines struggle to adapt as flights are canceled at 40 major airports

• Thousands of flights were canceled over the weekend as the FAA ordered airlines to slash schedules at 40 major airports.

• Air traffic controller shortages, fueled by the monthlong government shutdown, triggered widespread disruptions.

• Airlines warn the cuts could double by Friday, threatening Thanksgiving travel plans for millions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to cut 4 percent of flights at the nations 40 busiest airports, a move that caused thousands of cancellations over the weekend and signaled deeper trouble ahead for the air travel system. Officials say the restrictions, which began Friday, are necessary to maintain safety as air traffic controllers continue working without pay during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Staffing crisis hits major hubs

At one point Saturday, only four of 22 scheduled controllers reported for duty in Atlanta, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday on CNN. Its only going to get worse, he warned. By the two weeks before Thanksgiving, youre going to see air travel reduced to a trickle.

The FAAs cuts are expected to grow to 10 percent by this Friday and possibly higher, threatening to paralyze the nations busiest airports just as the holiday travel season begins.

Airlines struggle to adapt

Carriers scrambled through the weekend to adjust their schedules, reroute crews and reposition aircraft, but cancellations mounted each day. The degree of complexity increases for every flight we cant operate, said Steve Olson, JetBlues head of system operations and airports. That means we may not have a crew or aircraft where it needs to be for the next flight.

Major carriers take the biggest hit

According to aviation data firm Cirium, American Airlines canceled roughly 740 flights Friday and Saturdaymore than 6.5 percent of its schedule. Delta canceled about 640 flights, or 7.3 percent, while United cut 450, or just over 5 percent.

By Sunday afternoon, more than 2,000 flights had been canceled nationwide, making it the years fourth-worst day for air travel disruptions. Delta alone canceled more than 14 percent of its schedule, while American and United each canceled over 9 percent.

More turbulence ahead

Delays also surged, affecting more than 8,300 flights as of Sunday afternoon. Analysts warn that the situation could worsen as airlines run out of options to reshuffle crews and aircraft.

For now, the FAAs goal is to preserve safety amid mounting pressure on unpaid controllersbut with Thanksgiving fast approaching, passengers may need to brace for a chaotic holiday travel season.

Here are the key recommendations airlines are giving passengers who are worried about flight disruptions amidst the ongoing cancellations and cuts:

What airlines are advising

• Keep a close eye on your flight status via the airline app, website or alerts. Many carriers say they will automatically notify you if your flight is cancelled or changed.

• Be ready to rebook or accept alternate travel arrangements without penalty. For example, some airlines will waive change or cancellation fees if flights are cancelled or you choose not to travel.

• Know your refund rights: If your flight is cancelled and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a full refund (even for non-refundable fares) under U.S. law.

• Consider booking with flexibility: Choose fares that allow changes or refunds, avoid non-changeable/basic fares if possible. Some travel experts suggest booking a backup flight on another airline if your trip is time-sensitive.

• Arrive early at the airport, and prepare for longer delays or possible cancellation. Many recommend padding your schedule, especially if you have connections or a tight timeline.

• Have a plan B: If flying looks risky for your schedule, consider alternate modes of transport (train, bus, car) or postponing non-urgent travel.

Practical steps you should take now

• Check the status of your flight multiple times in the days/hours leading up to it.

• If you get a cancellation notice, contact your airline immediately (via app, phone or online) and secure a rebooking or refund.

• Save all receipts if you incur extra costs (hotel, meals, alternate transport)some credit cards or travel insurance may cover this.

• If your flight is cancelled and you decide not to travel, request the refund rather than only a credit.

• If possible, avoid bookings with tight connections, and try to book direct/non-stop flights.

Still have an old computer? Here are some easy and inexpensive options

It's too bad about Windows 10. Millions of people loved it, or at least were more or less oblivious and probably remain so today, even though it has been declared officially obsolete by Microsoft. Although it's hard for computer nerds to understand, most consumers are about as interested in their operating system as they are in their water heater. Basically, if it works, that's pretty much the end of the story for them.

But while it's possible to just go merrily along ignoring the end of Windows 10, it's not really advisable. That's because Microsoft pronounced it dead on October 14 and is no longer issuing periodic updates, you know those things many people never bother to install.

Like changing the oil in your car, you can ignore software updates for awhile but it's dangerous. The updates are issued to add protections against viruses and other nasty hazards that didn't exist when earlier versions of the software were written. Doing without is like locking some of the doors to your house but leaving others open. Not a good idea.

Technically, Windows 10 could run indefinitely if Microsoft would continue to support it, but it won't. And unfortunately, older computers often can't run Windows 11, its anointed successor. This leaves most consumers facing the expense and inconvenience of buying a new computer.

There are some options but a little caution is advised.Poke around the web a little and you'll find articles advising you to switch to Linux, a free operating system that is battle-tested and runs most of the major web servers and many heavy-duty industrial applications. I have personally used Linux for decades and consider it by far the best system out there. It has many fervent fans who are always eager to convert new followers.

But there is one big problem with Linux. Whether anyone will admit it or not, it's made by geeks for geeks and keeping it updated and running smoothly isn't for the computer novice. Oh sure, you can fix just about any problem that crops up but it may take an entire afternoon of researching obscure help forums and trying to navigate the command-line, the bare bones interface you see when all the pretty pictures go away.

Like a lot of experienced Linux users, I always have Linux fired up and standing by but these days I do most of my work on Macs, which you might call the Toyotas of the computer worlds. Just as gearheads call Toyotathe car for people who don't care much aboutcars, Macs are computers for people who don't care much about computers. They just work,even if you don't much care for them.

In the past, I have talked acquaintances into switching to Linux and instantly regretted it. I really don't need to get phone calls at 10 p.m. because someone's printer suddenly stopped responding, so it's no longer something I freely recommend. But don't take my word for it. Read on!

What to do?

So what are the options?

An organization called PIRG has for years been advocating for "right to repair" rules for consumer goods, including computers. They are now organizing "Fix-a-thon" events where volunteers retrofit older computers, either through alternative software or hardware upgrade, so that they can run Windows 11.

"For our Fix-a-thon events, we recruited 64 volunteers in six cities New York, Boston, Cambridge, MA, Worcester, MA, Madison, WI and Chicago to install alternative software on older computers, and otherwise refurbish and troubleshoot any issues, the group said in a recent update. "We partnered with local refurbishers and other groups to acquire computers and commenced a marathon of fixing and laptop rescue. All in all, our cross-country fixers rescued 103 computers. Most of these computers will be donated to various partner groups across the country, including youth groups and charitable nonprofits."

Partner organizations held similar events around the globe. In total, the Open Repair Alliance tracked3,400 repair eventsduring this years International Repair Day 55% more than last year, PIRG said.

"While many older, Windows 10-compatible computers wont be able to upgrade to Windows 11, there are ways of keeping these devices in use. One option is to install alternative software such as Ubuntu Linux, Linux Mint and Chrome OS Flex. These software options can keep older devices secure and usable," PIRG said.

If you are still running Windows 10 and trying to decide what to do, PIRG has a useful guidethat will walk you through the options. And don't take my bad-mouthing Linux as gospel. It's an excellent system but you need a person or organization to help you through the learning curve.

Chrome OS

An excellent but often overlookedoption for consumers who mostly use their computer for web browsing is Chrome OS, the Linux-based system that powers the very cool little Chromebook laptops that cost a fraction of a full-fledged Windows or Mac model. There's also something called Chrome OS Flex, a free Google product you can install on just about any existing computer. It is very simple to use and, unlike the full-bore Linux, has excellent built-in support.

The options

So here in the simplest form are your options if you are still running Windows 10 on an older computer:

1. Buy a new computer with Windows 11. Minimum cost: $600 or so for a very basic system.
2. Buy a fairly new used computer that will run Windows 11. Minimum cost: a few hundred for the computer and $139 to Microsoft for a Windows 11 license.
3. Grab a free copy of Ubuntu Linux, Mint Linux or other relatively easy to use Linux system.
4. Give Chrome OS Flex a try. It's free and easy to use and has excellent built-in support.
5. Buy a Chromebook. Prices start inthe low few-hundreds. These are excellent little machines that are probably all anyone needs for personal use.

Anyone of these options will work. For someone who isn't technically inclined andjust needs to safely check email and browse the web, the Chromebook is the no-fuss, no-muss solution. It's easy to use, keeps itself updated and shouldn't ever cost you anything beyond the purchase price.