WASHINGTON D.C. – A protracted United States federal government shutdown, which began on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, has now become the longest in the nation's history, forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers to seek aid from food banks to survive. [1, 15] The funding impasse, stemming from a congressional dispute over healthcare policy, has left approximately 1.4 million federal employees without pay, creating a deepening economic and social crisis across the US. [4, 5]

As of Wednesday, 5 November 2025, East Africa Time, the shutdown has lasted 36 days, surpassing the 35-day record set in 2018-2019. [1, 15] The Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank, reported on 5 November 2025 that at least 670,000 workers have been furloughed (sent on unpaid leave), while another 730,000 are deemed "essential" and are required to work without pay. [14] This has led to scenes of desperation, with long queues forming at food distribution centres in cities like New York and Washington D.C., as families struggle to afford basic necessities like groceries and medicine. [3, 4]

The financial strain is compounded by disruptions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal initiative that provides food aid to over 40 million low-income Americans. [4, 23] The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initially announced that November benefits would be withheld. [4, 7] However, following lawsuits from more than two dozen states, the administration was ordered by federal courts on 31 October 2025 to release contingency funds. [12, 18] On 3 November 2025, the USDA confirmed it would use approximately $4.6 billion from an emergency fund to provide partial—around 50%—of the normal benefits for November. [18, 19, 25] Officials have warned that distributing even these reduced funds will be a slow and complex process. [25]

Political Paralysis and Economic Impact

The shutdown was triggered when Congress failed to pass the necessary spending bills for the 2026 fiscal year due to a deadlock over extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). [2, 7] The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed multiple funding bills, but these have been repeatedly blocked in the Senate by Democrats seeking to protect the healthcare subsidies. [7, 11] As of 4 November 2025, the Senate had rejected a House-passed funding package for the 14th time, with no clear resolution in sight. [11, 15]

The economic consequences are significant. The 2013 shutdown, which lasted 16 days, was estimated by Standard & Poor's to have taken $24 billion out of the US economy. [1] The Congressional Budget Office reported that the 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019 resulted in $3 billion in permanent economic losses. [6] The current, longer shutdown is expected to have a more severe impact, disrupting government services, delaying federal spending, and reducing consumer confidence. [2] Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks, issued a statement on 1 October 2025, warning that a prolonged shutdown would place immense strain on their resources, which are already stretched thin. [16]

Implications for Kenya and East Africa

While the shutdown is a domestic US crisis, the political dysfunction it highlights has potential implications for international partners, including Kenya. The United States is a major source of foreign aid to Kenya, primarily through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In the 2023 fiscal year, the US provided approximately $846.9 million in aid to Kenya, targeting critical sectors like health, agriculture, and emergency response. [22] Over the past five years, this assistance has averaged around $931 million annually. [22]

Although foreign aid is typically funded through separate, long-term appropriations that are not immediately affected by a shutdown, prolonged political instability in Washington can create uncertainty and delay payments for essential global programs. [22] A previous analysis by Streamline News on 24 October 2025, noted that the shutdown was already threatening to derail negotiations for a new trade agreement between the US and Kenya, intended to succeed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). [27] Any disruption to USAID-funded projects, such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) or food security initiatives, could have serious consequences for the millions of Kenyans who benefit from them. [28, 29] The current impasse serves as a stark reminder of the potential vulnerabilities for nations reliant on the stability of their international partners.