Airport Alert: Senate Rejects Two Proposals to Fund Federal Government

September 30, 2025

With a government shutdown just hours away, the Senate late today rejected two short-term continuing resolutions to keep the federal government operating – one proposed by Republicans and one by Democrats. 

Competing Proposals

Senate Republicans failed to gain the 60 votes necessary to approve a House-passed bill to keep the federal government operating through November 21. The vote on the clean extension was 55 to 45 with two Democrats and one independent supporting the GOP proposal.

The Senate also rejected a proposal put forward by Democrats to keep the government operating through October 31 and extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. The party-line vote was 47 to 53 – short of the 60 votes necessary for passage.

DOT Releases Updated Shutdown Plan

The DOT finally released an updated shutdown plan this afternoon. The plan is similar – but not identical – to a plan the agency unveiled in March during another shutdown threat

There are some notable differences between the two. The latest shutdown plan indicates that air traffic controller hiring and field training will continue during a shutdown. Both were slated to cease under the March shutdown notice. Unlike the previous version, the new shutdown plan also indicates that facility security inspections will continue.

FAA Activities That Will Continue During a Shutdown

• ATC Services
• Air Traffic Controller Hiring
• Field Training of Air Traffic Controllers
• Maintenance and Operation of Navigation Aids and Other Facilities
• Flight Standards Field Inspections
• Airworthiness Directives
• Airmen Medical Certifications
• Certification Activities Including Controller Medical Clearances
• Facility Security Inspections
• Hazmat Safety Inspections
• Support Functions Necessary to Provide Timely Payments to Contractors and Grantees
• Airport Inspections
• Existing Airport Development Grants
• PFC Approvals
• Airport Planning and Environmental Services Funded by AIP
• IIJA Activities
• Training at the Academy for New Air Traffic Controllers