Republican and Democratic lawmakers remain at a stalemate on finding a government funding solution to end what is now the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history.
The Senate on Thursday adjourned until Monday afternoon, which will mark the 34th day of the government shutdown.
Meanwhile, a federal judge has laid out a path for the administration to fund SNAP benefits, which ran out on Saturday, saying the administration could tap more than $5 billion in emergency funds, as well as a much larger pot of tariff revenue collected by the Agriculture Department to fund the program.
On the 29th day of the government shutdown, the White House has found a workaround to ensure that members of the military get paid on Friday.
The White House Office of Management and Budget found the $5.3 billion needed to pay military members, an OMB official confirmed to ABC News.
Here’s where it will come from:
$2.5 billion from a military housing fund specified in Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" to continue paying housing allowances for military personnel.
$1.4 billion from the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation fund, which primarily will cover U.S. Army and Air Force payroll.
$1.4 billion from a Defense Department procurement account for building U.S. Navy ships, largely to fund the Navy and Marines.
-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie
Oct 29, 2025, 4:44 PM EDT
Thune boils over in frustration as he blocks Democrat bill on SNAP funding
In perhaps the most publicly tense moment of this 29-day standoff, Senate Majority Leader John Thune blocked an effort by Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan to move his bill that would have directed USDA to use its contingency funds to fund SNAP.
It was perhaps the most animated Thune has ever been on the Senate floor. He was at times shouting as he blocked the bill, which Lujan was attempting to pass unanimously. Thune argued that if Democrats want to fund SNAP and other programs, they ought to vote to reopen the government to fund all programs.
"Let me just point out if I might that we are 29 days into a Democrat shutdown. And the senator from New Mexico is absolutely right. SNAP recipients shouldn't go without food. People should be getting paid in this country," Thune said before escalating his voice to a full scream. "And we've tried to do that 13 times and you voted no 13 times!"
Reporters ask questions as US Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Republican from South Dakota, turns to enter his office at the US Capitol in Washington, October 29, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
"This isn't a political game. These are real peoples lives that we are talking about and you all have jut figured out 29 days in that oh there might be some consequences, that people are running out of money," Thune said.
Lujan's bill, co-sponsored by the whole Democratic caucus, would have directed USDA to use its contingency funds to provide funding for SNAP. It comes as 25 states have filed a lawsuit on the issue ahead of the halting of benefits at the start of November.
"The Trump administration has the authority and the funds to keep SNAP running during this shutdown," Lujan said. "Any failure to do so right now falls squarely on the Trump administration and Republicans."
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin
Oct 29, 2025, 4:32 PM EDT
House staffers will miss 1st paycheck of shutdown
House staffers received a notice on Wednesday stating that they will not receive their next paycheck scheduled for Friday, the first missed paycheck of the government shutdown, according to a notice obtained by ABC News.
"Due to the lapse in appropriations, the October 2025 monthly pay disbursement scheduled for a pay date of Friday, October 31, will be delayed until after funding is enacted," the notice states.
The U.S. flag is flies atop of the US Capitol on day 28 of the government shutdown, Oct. 28, 2025, in Washington.
Mariam Zuhaib/AP
Health and life insurance coverage will not be interrupted for House staffers, according to a separate memo from the House Chief Administrative Officer to staffers.
Meanwhile, House lawmakers do receive their paychecks during the shutdown -- though several have requested their pay be withheld.
-ABC News' Lauren Peller
Oct 29, 2025, 4:30 PM EDT
Jeffries, Johnson talked shutdown this week but failed to break impasse
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said that he and Speaker Mike Johnson had a discussion earlier this week on the shutdown, but after each party leader characterized the other as "irredeemable," it's clear the two did not have a productive conversation.
"They're irredeemable on a whole host of issues. They certainly are irredeemable, these Republican extremists, when it comes to actually standing up for the American people," Jeffries said. "Republicans have done this, and they now refuse to even sit down and address the health care crisis that they have inflicted on the American people."
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks during a press conference to discuss how the ongoing government shutdown is affecting SNAP food aid benefits and healthcare, on Capitol Hill in Washington, October 28, 2025.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters
Earlier Wednesday, Johnson had said that both Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Jeffries were "irredeemable" -- as Republicans continue to troll Democrats over the Democratic nominee for mayor of New York.
Jeffries confirmed that the topic of the call was the shutdown, but expressed doubt that the top congressional leaders will break the impasse. Instead, he predicted it'll be rank-and-file members who strike a bipartisan compromise.
"It was a brief conversation. I reiterated our position as it relates to a willingness to sit down to find a bipartisan path forward, that we want to continue to support our hard working federal employees, who they've been victimizing since Jan. 20, that we need to reopen the government, and we need to do it now, but we also need to address the Republican healthcare crisis," Jeffries said as he read out the call with Johnson. "Our position as Democrats has been clear. We're not going to support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to cut the health care the American people."
