Federal Government Shutdown Continues
The federal government entered its fifth week of a shutdown as Congress continued to struggle to make progress on a funding deal. The House remains in recess, and several piecemeal funding bills have stalled in the Senate. This week, Republicans issued a press release highlighting support for the House-passed funding bill, a continuing resolution (CR) that has failed to pass the Senate and would fund federal operations through November 21. Congressional Democrats released a fact sheet arguing that the administration is worsening the shutdown’s impact through mass layoffs and withholding funds from programs that already have available resources, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
On Monday, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) issued a statement calling for the passage of a clean CR. With most federal employees set to miss another paycheck, AFGE argues that the shutdown is harming federal workers, families, and institutions that keep the country running.
Democratic Congressional leaders are still centering their demands on the extension of healthcare subsidies to be included in any funding legislation, whether that is a shorter- or longer-term CR to reopen the government. Starting this weekend, healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are also likely to rise significantly during the upcoming open enrollment period, making healthcare costs much higher for consumers who qualify based on their income, small business ownership, or employment status.
This week, the pressure on lawmakers grew in part due to the November 1 cutoff of SNAP benefits, a potential lapse in military pay, and rising concern about staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, which are impacting air travel. The November 1 cutoff of SNAP benefits coincides with broader eligibility changes to this program included in Congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation package, which also included funding reductions for this and other social safety net programs. It remains uncertain whether the White House will release SNAP funds before the November 1 deadline, which will determine if food assistance for more than 42 million people continues uninterrupted, as appropriated, during the federal shutdown.
Advance CTE will continue to report the progress of these appropriations discussions and communicate the potential impact on education and workforce programs to the wider CTE community.
Judge Blocks Federal Layoffs During Shutdown
This week, a U.S. District Court Judge extended an order preventing the Trump administration from proceeding with reductions-in-force (RIFs) during the shutdown, including at the U.S. Department of Education (ED), where more than 400 positions are affected. The ruling halts planned cuts to key offices, such as the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, ensuring affected employees keep their jobs while on furlough, unless a higher court overturns the decision.
Judges Announced for AI Horizons Challenge
This month, ED announced the judges for the third challenge in the CTE Momentum series, “Your AI Horizons Challenge,” inviting high school Career Technical Education (CTE) learners to innovate with AI-driven solutions that reimagine the future workplace and explore how AI can engage careers across all industries. Chelle Travis, the Executive Director of SkillsUSA, has been selected as a judge, alongside several others, to help assess submissions for this competition.
Learners and teachers are encouraged to apply for the challenge before the window closes on November 19, 2025.
Advance CTE encourages the community to share this information with wider networks!
