The Senate is not expected to vote on the House-passed measure to reopen the government today. However, a vote on a Democrat-led war powers resolution aimed at blocking strikes on Venezuela is planned for Thursday, according to Majority Whip John Barrasso’s office. The notice also states that further votes may occur on Thursday.

The U. S. Department of Agriculture announced that recipients of federal food benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will receive a higher portion of their monthly payments for November than initially expected. Instead of halving benefits, as initially planned, maximum allotments will be reduced by 35% for this month. This means that eligible Americans will receive up to 65% of their benefits, more than the initial 50%. This decision was made in response to a court declaration made by Patrick Penn, who oversees food and nutrition services at the USDA, including SNAP.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, an influential figure in Congress and the Democratic Party for decades, announced on Thursday that she will not seek reelection and will retire from Congress after her term ends in early 2027. In a video released Thursday morning, Pelosi, who has represented the San Francisco area since 1987, thanked her constituents and expressed her gratitude for her final year of service. She encouraged the city to continue fighting for American ideals and to remain active participants in democracy.

Following the Democrats’ sweep in key races during Tuesday’s elections, Senate Democrats appeared emboldened in their shutdown posture. However, the caucus is split on how to proceed, with some progressives urging them not to compromise on their demands for healthcare, while some moderates engage in talks for a resolution. Talks for a possible off-ramp to end the shutdown continued on Wednesday, with Democrats involved remaining tight-lipped about the details and the impact of the election on their posture.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a plan to slash airline capacity by 10% in 40 high-volume markets due to the government shutdown. This could impact some of the nation’s busiest airports, including those in Atlanta, Dallas, New York City, and Los Angeles. The proposed list also includes cargo airports in major cities and private jet airports in New York and California. The list is not final and could still change, as the FAA has not issued a final order for airlines to cut their capacity.

According to sources familiar with a call between airlines, the FAA, and the Department of Transportation, the capacity cuts will likely be phased in over several days. The airlines have not yet received an official order from the FAA, but are operating under the understanding that they will need to reduce their schedules by at least 4% on Friday and at least 5% on Saturday, and hit the 10% mark by next week. This is subject to change when the final order is issued.