Shutdown headlines: FAA reducing traffic, millions won’t get SNAP benefits

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it was taking the extraordinary step of reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain during the ongoing government shutdown.

The cutback stands to impact thousands of flights nationwide because the FAA directs more than 44,000 flights daily, including commercial passenger flights, cargo planes and private aircraft.

The agency didn’t immediately identify which airports or cities will be affected but said the restrictions would remain in place as long as necessary.

United, Southwest and American all said they will try to minimize the impact on consumers as they cut their schedules to comply with the order.

The government shutdown has now stretched to 36 days, officially becoming the longest shutdown of any kind in U.S. history.

The landmark closure passed that historic threshold just hours after Democrats swept the polls in key elections, winning the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, the New York City mayoral election, and a California redistricting measure.

Now, congressional Democratic leaders are taking a victory lap and using the momentum to reframe the government shutdown.

“Last night, Republicans felt the political repercussions,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). He sees the “blue wave” as a good indication of how Americans feel about the other party, sharing their frustrations with Republicans and President Trump on the ballot.

Nearly 5 million food stamp recipients will not receive any benefits in November under the plan the Trump administration issued Tuesday, according to a new analysis.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, said Monday it would issue partial benefits this month by tapping into the program’s contingency fund. The announcement came after two federal judges said the agency was required to do so.

However, some families receiving assistance make too much money to receive the partial benefits, according to an analysis from the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The institute says roughly 4.9 million SNAP recipients won’t receive any benefits in November.

The courts gave the USDA the option of shifting other money to SNAP to enable it to pay full benefits this mon