More than 780 flights were canceled across the United States byThursday as the federal government shutdown entered its 37th day, the longest in the country’s history.

Ground stops at major airports including LaGuardia and JFK disrupted travel nationwide, with exhausted air traffic controllers staging “sick-outs” amid unpaid wages and mounting pressure.

The shutdown, triggered by a dispute over border wall funding between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats, has left 800,000 federal workers without pay and caused an estimated $18 billion in economic losses. The Congressional Budget Office reports daily losses of approximately $500 million.

Flight cancellations have reached 20% nationwide, with controllers citing fatigue and lack of support. “We’re human – not machines,” one FAA veteran told reporters, as holiday travel plans unraveled.

In response to growing hardship, U.S. District Judge Jack McConnell ordered the Department of Agriculture to release $9 billion in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds to support 42 million recipients. The Trump administration appealed the ruling, citing legal constraints. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said states may begin distribution by week’s end, though critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, condemned the delay.

While partisan gridlock continues to block salary advances and legislative fixes, quiet negotiations suggest a possible stopgap bill to prevent further disruption. The shutdown’s impact has extended to national parks, food banks, and other essential services, underscoring the risks of prolonged government inaction.