November 13, 12:00pm—Shutdown Day 43
Overview
President Trump late Wednesday evening signed a government funding package at the White House, formally ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The 43-day shutdown–spanning more than six weeks–halted many federal operations, furloughed hundreds of thousands of employees and disrupted programs affecting millions of Americans.
The new funding law extends government operations through January 30, 2026, and includes three full-year appropriations bills for select agencies. The Senate passed the legislation on Monday, with eight Democrats joining Republicans to advance the measure. The House approved it on Wednesday by a vote of 222–209, with six Democrats and two Republicans crossing party lines.
Activity in Congress
The agreement follows weeks of negotiations between Senate leaders and the White House. The final package includes a continuing resolution (CR) and a three-bill minibus providing full-year FY26 appropriations for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bills.
While the package funds most agencies through January, it does not address the expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits that were central to Democratic demands during the shutdown. As part of the deal, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) committed to holding a Senate vote on an ACA subsidy extension by mid-December, setting up the next major policy debate.
In the House, Democratic leaders have announced plans to introduce a discharge petition that would force a vote on a three-year ACA subsidy extension if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declines to bring the measure forward. The proposal would require Republican support to pass.
Program Impacts
The 43-day shutdown affected approximately 42 million SNAP recipients, 670,000 furloughed federal employees and 4,000 federal workers facing layoffs. The passed bill requires agencies to provide written notice to Congress when furloughed employees have received their back pay and when fired workers are reinstated. It also created significant backlogs in research, permitting and grant administration and contributed to an estimated $7 billion in economic losses nationwide.
With the government now reopened, appropriations work will continue in both chambers. In the Senate, the next appropriations package–covering the Departments of War, Commerce-Justice-Science, Interior-Environment, Labor-Health and Human Services-Education, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development–is expected to advance in the coming weeks.
November 11, 11:00am—Shutdown Day 42
Overview
After more than six weeks, the Senate yesterday approved an amended version of the House-passed continuing resolution (CR), marking a significant step toward reopening the federal government. The bill passed with a bipartisan coalition of senators–Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), and John Fetterman (D-PA)–joining Republicans in favor of the measure. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was the lone Republican to vote against it.
The legislation now heads to the House, where it is expected to be taken up for a vote on Wednesday. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has asked members to return to DC early to avoid travel delays ahead of the vote.
Activity in Congress
The amended CR extends government funding through January 31 and includes provisions to provide backpay for furloughed federal employees. In a key concession to Democrats, the bill also reverses reductions-in-force (RIFs) implemented since October 1 and prohibits additional RIFs through the end of January.
As part of the deal, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) pledged to hold a mid-December vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits.
The CR also carries a three-bill appropriations minibus, providing full-year FY26 funding in the Agriculture-FDA, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs and Legislative Branch bills.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) both supported the package, as did House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK). House Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) did not sign off on the agreement.
Program Impacts
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Legal challenges surrounding SNAP funding have continued throughout the shutdown. On November 6, a Rhode Island judge ordered the administration to fully fund the program, but Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson temporarily paused that order pending further review. Earlier, a federal appeals court rejected the Administration’s effort to delay full payments, though the order remains on hold until the Supreme Court issues its decision. If enacted, the new CR would restore full SNAP funding through the Agriculture-FDA appropriations bill included in the minibus.
Air Travel
The FAA’s ongoing flight reductions have significantly affected national air travel, with more than half of flights delayed or canceled on Sunday across 40 major airports. Today, roughly seven percent of flights were canceled, and that figure is expected to rise daily until Thursday, when a 10 percent reduction will take effect nationwide. The Transportation Department has warned that the total number of cuts could increase if the shutdown continues.
November 7, 2:00pm–Shutdown Day 38
Overview
At 38 days and counting, this shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history. Unfortunately, the milestone comes with widening impacts across the country.
Late last week, there were signs that mounting pressures–ranging from the lapse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding to the start of open enrollment for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans–might spur progress toward a deal. However, negotiations remain slow. Adding to the disruption, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will impose a 10 percent reduction in flights across 40 major airports beginning next week, likely creating widespread travel delays.
Activity in Congress
The Senate continues to explore a bipartisan framework to reopen the government, but talks have yet to produce an agreement. Negotiations are centered on a potential continuing resolution (CR) that would temporarily fund federal agencies while lawmakers work to finalize the 12 appropriations bills for the remainder of the fiscal year. The framework would also guarantee a vote on extending ACA premium tax credits, though the length of the new CR remains under debate–some favoring a short-term measure before the December holidays and others pushing for an extension into January.
While discussions continue, President Trump has called for eliminating the Senate filibuster to lower the vote threshold for passing a CR from 60 to 51. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has said there is not enough support for that approach. The House of Representatives remains in recess and has not voted since September 19—that’s 49 days.
The current House-passed CR, rejected repeatedly in the Senate, expires November 21. A new stopgap funding measure will be required to bridge the impasse and avoid further disruption.
Program Impacts
The ongoing shutdown continues to affect multiple federal programs. SNAP benefits remain suspended in many states, and although the Administration has authorized partial emergency funding, implementation timelines vary widely. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is being sustained through temporary funding that is expected to last only two to three more weeks.
In the transportation sector, the FAA’s planned flight reductions reflect staffing shortages and delayed pay for air traffic controllers, adding to growing pressure on lawmakers to reach a resolution.
November 5, 1:00pm—Shutdown Day 36
A message from Duke Office for Research & Innovation Vice President, Jennifer Lodge, Ph.D.:
As we move further into the fall, I am writing to acknowledge that this year continues to be a time of significant stress for many across Duke’s research community. The uncertainty due to ongoing changes in the research landscape which have been exacerbated by the continuing federal government shutdown, along with financial, professional, and personal pressures, affects us all. Please know Duke University leadership recognizes the magnitude of the current situation and is actively working to guide our community through these unprecedented challenges.
As the federal government shutdown continues, I know the effects of delayed communications have continued to grow for investigators and administrators. While university leadership continues to monitor developments in Washington, please note the following reminders:
- Stay informed: OR&I continues to post updates on myRESEARCHpath and communicate key information via email, including the Duke Research Insider.
- Continue work: Active federally sponsored grants and contracts should proceed unless you receive a formal stop work order or suspension notice. If you do, please forward it to grantsupport@duke.edu so the central grants offices may provide clarity and assistance.
- Plan ahead: Continue preparing applications and progress reports for on-time submissions. Unless an agency has specifically communicated that a submission system has been affected by the shutdown, it should still be possible to submit grant applications and progress reports; however, online help desks may not be available for assistance. If submission systems are shut down, the agency is likely to communicate extensions to submission deadlines.
- Anticipate delays: Please plan for delays in federal agency response times and administrative processing during the shutdown. Please remember central grants offices are affected by these delays and requests submitted through those offices are dependent upon responses from the federal government.
Though the federal government shutdown has certainly magnified the unusual nature of this year, I know the research community has been facing uncertainty for many months. To assist our research community in navigating the evolving federal funding environment, OR&I, in collaboration with the schools and college, departments, and key institutional partners, is advancing a range of initiatives. Among the highlights are these key initiatives:
- Bridge funding: Some federal awards have been terminated, expected Notices of Award have been slow to arrive, decisions on awards have been delayed, and paylines at some federal agencies are lower. Although Duke cannot provide resources to support research that is no longer eligible for funding, the university, through OR&I, the Office of the Provost, and the schools are committing substantial resources to bridge researchers and research teams to their next project.
- The Duke Science & Technology (DST) SPARK seed program was repurposed to provide funds (up to $150,000 per year for each project) to enable faculty to develop new avenues of research. These awards have been made and a formal announcement of recipients is forthcoming.
- The Office of the Provost, in collaboration with OR&I and the schools and college, will soon announce a bridge funding program to provide short-term financial support to research projects and associated personnel directly affected by recent federal changes as well as additional opportunities for researchers to initiate new projects. This will include some funding for critical aspects of international projects that have been affected by the changes in federal priorities.
- The New Direction and Delayed Funding Program, currently open to School of Medicine faculty, provides resources for support of at-risk spending (e.g., a delayed NOA), bridging to the next award, winddown funds, and pivot awards. In addition, SoM has reinstated its bridge funding program to assist researchers who have a lapse in funding.
- Award management: The Office of Research Support and Office of Research Administration are coordinating with researchers and working with sponsors to successfully re-negotiate awards whose scope, timelines or deliverables have been affected.
- Appeal of award terminations: When allowed and reasonable, Duke has facilitated termination appeals in coordination with investigators.
- Advocating for research: Duke leadership continues work with our national associations and Congress to advocate for stable, increased federal research funding and policies that recognize the full costs of research, including fair facilities and administrative (F&A) recovery rates.
- Enhanced funding opportunities tools and services: OR&I has developed and disseminated tools that make it easier to search for and receive notifications about non-federal funding opportunities from its supported database. Offices specializing in non-federal funding are also working to offer more programs, with further improvements planned.
I recognize these measures will not overcome all the current challenges, but Duke leadership is committed to identifying and advancing initiatives supporting the people and programs that make Duke’s research community exceptional.
I invite you to engage with leadership by sending questions and comments to grantsupport@duke.edu.
Thank you for your dedication, partnership, and perseverance. Your work continues to advance knowledge, serve society, and inspire hope. Together, we will uphold Duke’s mission of discovery and innovation.
November 4, 4:00pm—Shutdown Day 35
Overview
If the government shutdown continues past tonight, it will become the longest in U.S. history. The Senate returned to DC yesterday and failed to pass anything today after a 14th round of voting, while the House remains out of session. Reports this morning suggest there may be tentative progress toward a bipartisan framework to reopen the government. According to Punchbowl News, senators are exploring a potential deal that would reopen federal agencies and later guarantee a vote on extending expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
With Election Day today and Congress scheduled to recess through next week, pressure is growing to reach a resolution. Ongoing concerns about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and ACA open enrollment continue to underscore the shutdown’s broad impact on households nationwide.
Activity in Congress
A bipartisan group of representatives released a “statement of principles” outlining a potential compromise on ACA subsidies. The proposal calls for a two-year extension of the enhanced tax credits, accompanied by adjusted income eligibility limits. It marks the first public, bipartisan effort to address healthcare policy since the shutdown began.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) announced that the Senate will no longer attempt to pass the current House continuing resolution (CR), as its November 21 funding deadline is no longer viable. According to POLITICO, lawmakers are now weighing whether to amend that measure or introduce a new CR–currently debating whether to craft a funding patch that would run through December, the preference of senior appropriators, or January, desired by most Republicans. Democratic leadership has not yet endorsed a deadline.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and colleagues have also voiced support for advancing several appropriations bills alongside a CR, including those covering the Departments of Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, Transportation-HUD, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Interior-Environment.
Program Impacts
The administration announced today that it will partially fund SNAP through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $4.7 billion emergency contingency fund, following two court rulings that directed the agency to do so. Recipients will receive a portion of their normal benefits while states work to implement new disbursement schedules.
Last week, the Administration also allocated $450 million to sustain the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for an additional two to three weeks using unused tariff revenue.
Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has renewed its call for a clean CR to ensure continued pay for its members. The Federal Aviation Administration has warned that continued delays could strain operations due to staffing shortages and fatigue.
October 31, 3:00pm—Shutdown Day 31
Overview
The government shutdown has now reached 31 days, just four days short of becoming the longest in U.S. history.
To avoid disruptions in military pay, the White House has transferred funds from various accounts to ensure service members received their October 31 paychecks, though they cautioned that this approach is not sustainable beyond early November.
Open enrollment for health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace begins tomorrow. Without an extension of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, premiums could rise sharply for millions of Americans. Meanwhile, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will lapse on November 1 for the first time in its history, absent congressional action, impacting more than 42 million Americans who rely on the program for food assistance.
Just today, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it will call back 200 furloughed employees to resume operations related to visa processing and other immigration-related matters. DOL updated its contingency plan to include workers at the Employment and Training Administration’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification among those exempt from shutdown-related temporary layoffs because their roles are “necessary to perform activities implied by law.”
Activity in Congress
The House of Representatives remains in recess and has not held a vote since September 19. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reaffirmed this week that he will not bring the chamber back into session until the government is reopened, calling it “a futile exercise.” The current House-passed continuing resolution (CR), which funds the government through November 21, will expire in less than three weeks, likely necessitating another CR with a longer timeline.
In the Senate, discussions between moderate Democrats and Republican leaders are beginning to take shape. According to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), a handful of looming deadlines is sparking bipartisan conversations to develop an “off ramp” to end the shutdown. These conversations are still preliminary, but they signal early bipartisan engagement aimed at reopening the government and addressing key policy disputes. As of last night, the Senate is on recess for the weekend and will reconvene Monday.
October 28, 5:00pm–Shutdown Day 28
The federal government is nearing one month of being shutdown, and this morning the Senate failed for a 13th time to pass a vote for federal funding. As the shutdown’s impact begins to spread across federal agencies and programs, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is reporting a first: the agency has furloughed 1,400 employees, leaving about 400 NNSA staff to maintain minimum safe operating conditions at the nuclear security agency. Duke’s Office of Government Relations (OGR) is closely tracking other agency staffing concerns and any potential impacts on federally related business, such as delays in visa processing or impacts on federal student aid.
October 27, 4:00pm–Shutdown Day 27
As of today, the federal government has been shut down for 27 days, making it the second-longest in U.S. history. The Senate has cast multiple unsuccessful votes on stopgap funding and reconvened this afternoon. No vote is scheduled on the House-passed measure, which has already failed 12 times. According to Punchbowl News, the House hasn’t voted since September 19th–that’s 38 days.
The shutdown’s impacts are deepening across federal agencies and programs. The Department of Agriculture announced that federal food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will stop on November 1, citing that “the well has run dry.” The program supports more than 40 million Americans who rely on SNAP benefits for groceries. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said that a wealthy private donor has contributed $130 million to the U.S. government to help offset potential shortfalls in military pay resulting from the funding lapse.
In Congress, a GOP-led proposal to pay federal employees and contractors during the shutdown failed to advance last week, though its sponsor, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), continues talks with Democrats. POLITICO reports that Republican leaders may now look toward the next possible funding deadline, as the House has already passed a seven-week measure that would extend operations through November 21. Additional reports from Punchbowl indicate that lawmakers are also beginning to explore narrow “rifle-shot” funding bills that would pay specific federal employees, including military personnel and air traffic controllers. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has signaled that potential votes on these measures could occur as soon as Wednesday, although it remains unclear how Democrats will respond.
For regular updates from the Office of Government Relations (OGR), you can subscribe to our DC Digest newsletter that goes out every Tuesday and Friday with the latest federal activity and policy updates that are of interest to Duke. The archive of the latest newsletters can be found here.
October 13, 3:00pm–Shutdown Day 13
The shutdown is now heading into its third week, and and no end is in sight. The Senate returns for antoher round of voting today, though at the time of this writing, there is no indication it will pass. Current reports from POLITICO say that Senate Republicans are no longer allowing Democrats additional votes on their own alternative continuing resolution and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is sitll keeping members of the House out of session. As a reminder, for info on the shutdown’s impact to federally-funded research go to myRESEARCHPath for more information.
October 10, 12:00pm–Shutdown Day 10
After a seventh vote failed to pass in the Senate, the government shutdown is now expected to extend into next week. Congress still appears to be deadlocked on a funding plan, and the Senate isn’t scheduled to hold any votes until next Tuesday. As the shutdown heads into its third week, a reminder of the federal agency contingency plans are listed below, now including the plan from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
October 7, 2:00pm–Shutdown Day 7
The shutdown continues as Senators voted for the fifth time against advancing legislation Monday that would lead to reopening the government. The main sticking point for Senate Dems remains the provisions related to the Affordable Care Act. Votes are set to continue today, though the Senate is expected to once again reject both the GOP’s stopgap CR and the Democratic counterproposal, and negotiations remain stalled.
Below are updates from Duke Visa Services on the impact the shutdown will have immigration services:
This shutdown will have varying levels of impact on immigration as outlined below.
- Fee-based immigration processing – including immigration benefits at US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) and visas and passports at the U.S. State Department – should continue, though with potential delays if a shutdown is lengthy.
- OPT applications should not be impacted since they are processed by USCIS.
- Department of Labor immigration functions such as Labor Condition Applications (LCA), prevailing wage, and PERM processing are suspended until an appropriations bill or stopgap legislation is passed by Congress. The LCA is a required component for certain visa filings (including petitions for H-1B, E-3 and H-1B1 visas) so there will be delays in filing new petitions in those categories during the shutdown.
- Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities and operations will continue during the shutdown.
- The E-Verify system will not be operational during the shutdown, so Duke will not be able to initiate E-Verify queries or resolve tentative non-confirmations. However, Duke will continue to comply with I-9 requirements during the shutdown.
- The Conrad 30 program, which allows certain foreign medical graduates to apply for waivers of the two-year home residency requirement, expired as of September 30, 2025. Congress will need to reauthorize it before new waiver applications can be submitted.
October 2, 2:00pm–Shutdown Day 2
Today, Congress is on recess for Yom Kippur. When members return to work tomorrow, it is anticipated another vote will be underway. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has said that it’s “unlikely” senators will be in the Capitol voting this weekend, all but guaranteeing the government shutdown goes into next week.
As Senate Republicans and Democrats continue discussions and votes in the coming days, the Office of Management and Budget chief Russ Vought has stated his intent to execute mass reduction in force (RIF) moves of federal workers. 750,000 federal employees could be furloughed, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Late Wednesday, the Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the Department of Energy has canceled more than $7 billion in funding for hundreds of projects that the agency said don’t address the country’s energy needs and aren’t economically viable.
October 1, 2:30pm–Shutdown Day 1
Context and Contingency Plans
As of 12:01am, the government has officially shutdown. At the time of this writing, the Senate has held another round of voting today on a continuing resolution that failed.
Leading up to the shutdown, Congress had been working to move forward on the longer-term appropriations process for fiscal year (FY) 2026. Over the past several weeks, committees have released text, marked up bills, and advanced measures through votes. Below are the statuses of each bill across both chambers:
- House:
- Passed Full House: Defense; Military Construction–Veterans Affairs; Energy-Water
- Approved by Full Appropriations Committee: Agriculture; Homeland Security; Interior & Environment; Legislative Branch; State & Foreign Operations; Transportation–HUD; Commerce-Justice-Science; Financial Services; Labor-HHS-Education
- Senate:
- Passed Full Senate: Agriculture; Legislative Branch; Military Construction–Veterans Affairs
- Approved by Committee: Commerce-Justice-Science; Defense; Interior & Environment; Labor-HHS-Education; Transportation-HUD
Below is a listing of the available contingency plans for federal agencies. The OGR will continue to provide updates as needed.
We will provide updates to agency specific guidance as we receive them.
The OGR is working in close coordination with several key offices, including the Office for Research and Innovation and University Finance, to ensure updates are provided to the Duke community and contingencies are in place.
- For updates from Duke’s Office of Research and Innovation, please visit myRESEARCHpath.com
September 30, 8:00pm
The Duke Office of Government Relations (OGR) is closely monitoring developments in Washington as government funding is set to expire today. Unless Congress acts, a federal government shutdown will begin at 12:01 a.m. on October 1.
On September 19, the House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to extend funding through November 21, but the Senate failed to advance its own measures before adjourning for a week-long district work period. Yesterday, Senate and House leaders met with President Trump at the White House in an effort to develop an agreement to keep the government funded beyond today’s deadline, but a deal was not reached.
This afternoon, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), put competing proposals to fund the government on the floor for a vote, but those failed. Barring any last-minute congressional action, a government shutdown is now expected at midnight.
September 29, 2:00pm
The Duke Office of Government Relations (OGR) and Duke Health Government Relations are closely monitoring the budget negotiations in Washington to determine the implications of a possible federal government shutdown on Duke and its activities. If such a shutdown occurs, it will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructs all federal agencies and congressional offices to prepare and periodically update contingency plans for internal use. These contingency plans are required by law to be updated every two years and will now be found on each agency’s website. The myRESEARCHpath website will provide a listing of plans once publicly available. We are also closely monitoring whether a shutdown could lead to other disruptions, such as additional reductions in force for the federal workforce. We will share relevant information as it becomes available.
The OGR is closely coordinating with several key offices, including the Offices for Research and Innovation and Finance, to provide updates to the Duke community and contingencies that are in place should a shutdown occur. We will continue to monitor developments and communications from the federal agencies. Still, it is possible that official guidance will not become available until after the shutdown takes place. As information becomes available, it will be accessible through Duke Today, the Office of Government Relations blog, and the live updates page of myRESEARCHpath.
Duke Health Government Relations will inform health system leadership about the implications of a shutdown for patients, clinical trials, hospital operations, and medical and nursing education. As with previous shutdowns, we anticipate that the distribution of Social Security and Medicare checks, as well as Medicare payments to hospitals, physicians, and other providers, will continue. All Veterans Health Administration facilities that provide care will remain open and fully functional during a government shutdown. However, there is a patchwork of temporary statutory waivers for telehealth services under Medicare that, unless further action is taken, will expire on September 30. Duke Health Government Relations continues to advocate for the extension of telehealth waivers and any retroactive payments that may be due.
In the meantime, if you have meetings or events scheduled with federal officials in Washington, D.C., or on campus over the next few weeks, please consider alternative arrangements.
The following is a publication from the American Council on Education (ACE) regarding federal government shutdowns that might provide helpful background.
Government Shutdowns and Higher Education (ACE)
Below are some additional resources that will be helpful if a shutdown occurs:
From Duke University on Research Projects:
https://myresearchpath.duke.edu/impact-federal-government-shutdown-academic-research
From the American Immigration Lawyers Association:
https://www.aila.org/advo-media/aila-practice-pointers-and-alerts/government-shuts-down
OGR and Duke Health GR will continue to monitor the situation and update the Duke community as further information becomes available.