With SNAP food assistance benefits suspended during the government shutdown, food is loaded into a car trunk during a food distribution sponsored by Fulfill for 1000 people in the parking lot at ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood, New Jersey, on Nov. 12, 2025.

WASHINGTON – The federal government continues to resume operations two days after the end of the longest shutdown in history, but advocates warn of potential continued delays getting back pay out the door, airline flights back on schedule and food benefits.

President Donald Trump signed legislation Nov. 12 that ended the 43-day shutdown. For the record book, the White House clocked the shutdown at 42 days, 22 hours and 25 minutes.

As the government gets back on its feet, workers expect to get back pay within the next few days, airlines are repositioning crews and planes after flight cancellations and states are scrambling to distribute food benefits heading into the Thanksgiving holiday.

Here is what to know about how the government – and the country – are recovering from the shutdown:

Vance needles Schumer, Senate Democrats over shutdown

Vice President JD Vance says Democrats made a “huge political mistake” when they made demands to reopen the government that a group of moderates eventually caved on.

“They caused a lot of stress for our troops, they made our air traffic controllers not get paid, and they caused a lot of flight cancellations. They had a lot of people thinking they were not going to get their food benefits, all for literally nothing,” Vance said on Fox News. “We could have struck this exact deal 45 days ago.”

Most House and Senate Democrats voted against the GOP-backed bill to reopen the government. It passed with the support of six Democrats in the House and seven Democrats and an independent who caucuses with the party in the Senate.

--Francesca Chambers

AP recipients felt like ‘pawns’ in shutdown

About 42 million people receive SNAP benefits and the temporary suspension of benefits for many during the shutdown left them scrambling for food banks and other assistance to stave off hunger.

Leah Skinner told USA TODAY that after two heart attacks, her shorter shifts at McDonald’s leave her relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to provide the protein and vegetables she and her 16-year-old son need. But the shutdown felt like a game played above her head.

“It’s like a game of chess, and they’re using us as pawns,” Skinner, who lives in Palmer Lake, Colorado, said of the funding fight in Washington. “We’re the most sacrificable piece and the least important on the board.”

--Michael Collins

Federal workers expect to get back pay as soon as this weekend

After many government employees missed more than a month of work during the shutdown, they could start getting back pay as soon as this weekend.

A senior Trump administration official confirmed to USA TODAY that departments are aiming to send out checks covering back pay between Nov. 15-19, depending on the agency.

Because agencies have different payroll providers and payment processes, timing could vary, the official said. Most agencies are currently in the middle of their pay period, so the check only covers through Nov. 1 – pay for the rest of November, so far, will be in workers' next paycheck.

White House directed federal workers back to duty Nov. 13

The White House Office of Management and Budget quickly put out guidance following the end of the shutdown that directs federal agencies to open, and furloughed workers to return “in a prompt and orderly manner” starting Nov. 13.

OMB Director Russell Vought sent out the letter to department and agency heads Nov. 12 saying “employees we were on furlough due to the absence of appropriations should be directed to return to work on November 13.”

An estimated 750,000 workers were furloughed during the shutdown.

--Zac Anderson

DHS announces $10,000 bonuses for 'exemplary' TSA officers

Kristi Noem, the secretary of Homeland Security, announced Nov. 13 that Transportation Security Administration workers who provided “exemplary” service during the shutdown would receive $10,000 bonuses.

“Their unsung patriotism deserves recognition,” Noem said in recognizing two TSA officers – Reiko Walker, who worked double shifts, and Ashley Richardson, who canceled a move – at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

Funding for the bonuses comes from $13.2 billion Noem said Trump saved in cost-cutting since taking office.

About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers continued working during the shutdown as essential personnel. But many were absent as they searched for other income during the temporary halt in paychecks. Trump has proposed $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers with perfect attendance.

--Bart Jansen

Are flights still cancelled?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said nearly 20,000 flights were delayed during the shutdown due to short staffing.

Despite the shutdown ending, airlines and aviation experts cautioned travelers should prepare for further flight disruptions throughout the week because of crews and planes being out of position from flight cancellations.

Duffy ordered flight cancellations last week at 40 major airports due to staffing shortages. The department froze the cuts at 6% of flights due to a “rapid decline in controller callouts.”

“If the FAA safety team determines the trend lines are moving in the right direction, we’ll put forward a path to resume normal operations,” Duffy said in a statement Nov. 12.

‒ Eve Chen

USDA directs states to resume SNAP benefits 'promptly'

The U.S. Department of Agriculture directed Nov. 13 that SNAP food benefits resume “promptly” with the reopening of the government, but advocates said it could take a couple of days for states to resume payments.

The legislation Trump signed Nov. 12 to end the shutdown funded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the full fiscal year, through Sept. 30.

“State agencies must take immediate steps to ensure households receive their full November allotments promptly,” Patrick Penn, deputy under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services said in a statement. “State agencies should immediately resume issuing combined allotments for November and December for newly certified applicants who apply after the 15th of the month.”

At least 16 states already released full benefit amounts over the weekend, according to research by the Food Research and Action Center. Another 13 issued or began issuing partial or mixed payments.

Jessica Garon, a spokesperson for the American Public Human Services Association, told the Associated Press that most states would be able to issue full benefits within three days.

‒ Betty Lin-Fisher

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Government reopens with back pay and SNAP getting back on track. Live updates

Reporting by Bart Jansen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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