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2 looming deadlines could be key to ending the government shutdown, expert says
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With the government shutdown now in day four and no compromise in sight, a federal budget expert says two dates could send things «spiraling out of control»: the first day essential federal workers go without pay and the first day service members miss a paycheck.
The next federal worker pay date is Oct. 10 and the next pay date for the military is Oct. 15, according to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and U.S. General Services Administration.
Richard Stern, director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget at the Heritage Foundation, explained that while both sides are blaming the other for the shutdown, neither wants to be responsible for essential government workers or the troops to miss out on pay, making those dates central to ending the shutdown.
Stern explained that while Democratic leaders are attempting to blame the GOP for the shutdown, it was their decision to reject a compromise temporary spending bill that shut down the government.
SPEAKER JOHNSON FLIPS SCRIPT ON DEM LEADERS WITH STAUNCH WARNING AGAINST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
When military service members and essential government workers start missing out on paychecks, the pressure on Democrats to end the government shutdown will mount, one expert said. (Aaron Favila/AP Photo; Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images and AP)
Democrats have insisted that any agreement to keep the government funded must extend tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) beyond the end of this year, a provision Republicans rejected.
Some Democrats have even admitted it was their decision to close the government. In a viral video, Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., said, «We got to make sure Americans have the healthcare that they need, and if that means we’ve got to shut the government down, so be it.»
Former Politico reporter Rachel Bade also went on the record recently, saying, «The pressure is just going to skyrocket on Democrats.»
«I mean, it’s not just some people who live paycheck-to-paycheck. Most people cannot go without getting a subsequent paycheck. Like, that’s just the reality of things — troops not getting paid,» said Bade. «So, I think over the next, you know, week or so, if it lasts that long, we’re just going to have this … gut-wrenching reminder of what shutdowns mean.»
Stern likened the Democrats’ actions to deciding to «stomp [their] feet and make a dramatic situation out of it.»
REPUBLICANS ERUPT OVER SHUTDOWN CHAOS, ACCUSE DEMS OF HOLDING GOVERNMENT ‘HOSTAGE’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and most Senate Democrats are unwilling to budge on their position as the government shutdown rolls into a third day. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«Republicans passed a clean seven-week funding bill. They offered them the ability to fund the government for seven weeks and continue negotiations,» he said. «It was superfluous. It really was gratuitous of them to say, no, we demand the shutdown.»
«Democrats are asking for a restoration of so-called foreign aid. But a lot of that is money for transgender surgeries and abortions overseas,» Stern continued. «They want more money to go to NPR and PBS, that spread left-wing propaganda. They want other grant money that goes to left-wing causes. But the big ticket item is they want one and a half trillion dollars of extension of a welfare program that largely hands money to very well-off Americans, and included in that, they want to remove anti-fraud provisions that were passed in the one big, beautiful bill. Not only would that increase fraud, but it will actually effectively expand these welfare benefits to legal aliens. So, it’s hard to understand where they’re coming from, but that’s what they’re asking.»
«So, at the end of the day, I think they’re going to get the blame that I think they deserve.»
President Donald Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought have indicated the administration could use mandatory pots of money provided in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act to ensure that service members, Border Patrol agents and other Homeland Security personnel paychecks are not interrupted, which could serve as a lifeline for Democrats, Stern noted.
GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN AFTER CONGRESS DEADLOCKS ON SPENDING DEAL
President Donald Trump speaks to a gathering of top U.S. military commanders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Quantico, Virginia. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Even if this is the case, the White House noted shortly before the shutdown began that the government closure would jeopardize military pay, critical care for veterans, firefighter pay, disaster relief funding and many other programs important to Americans.
Either way, Stern said that the longer the shutdown continues, the greater the danger that funding can fail, and essential services start buckling under the pressure.
One example of essential federal workers who could be impacted by an extended government shutdown is air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel, who do not receive paychecks during government shutdowns despite being required to work to keep the nation’s flight schedules safe and on time. Though they are eventually paid when the government reopens, extended periods of time without a paycheck lead to stress on both the workers and the overall flight system.
SOCIAL SECURITY, AIRPORTS, FOOD STAMPS: HOW ARE YOU AFFECTED DURING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN?
The U.S. Capitol Building at sunset. (Fox News Digital/Emma Woodhead)
In 2019, on the 35th day of a government shutdown, ten air traffic controllers called in sick in Virginia and Florida, triggering ground stops at LaGuardia Airport in New York and cascading delays at Newark, Philadelphia and Atlanta.
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«This gets to the question of when do things start spiraling out of control?» said Stern, adding, «Some of these program expirations, as the shutdown drags on, might put more of a fire under Congress on both sides to reach a deal, whatever it means.»
Fox News Digital’s Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.
government shutdown,defense,congress
Planes
Medidas
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As Hezbollah rebuilds its forces and Lebanon is accused of failing to enforce the ceasefire terms brokered last year, Israel’s defense minister has fired off a warning to Beirut.
On Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, «Hezbollah is playing with fire, and the president of Lebanon is dragging his feet,» he said. «The Lebanese government’s commitment to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapons and remove it from southern Lebanon must be realized. Enforcement will continue and deepen — we will not allow a threat to the residents of the north.»
His warning comes as Fox News Digital has learned that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is weighing broader operations against the Iran-backed terrorist group after repeated violations of the truce.
A senior IDF officer stationed on the northern border told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview that Hezbollah remains fully armed and funded by Iran.
TRUMP ADMIN PRESSURES LEBANON TO DISARM HEZBOLLAH AS ENVOY CALLS NATION ‘FAILED STATE’
Israeli soldiers take part in an IDF exercise to enhance operational readiness along the Lebanon border in Oct. 2025. (IDF)
«Hezbollah didn’t give up their heavy weapons,» the officer said. «They’re still trained, still financed by Iran, and still trying to re-establish their positions. Our job is to make sure they don’t succeed.»
On Monday, the IDF confirmed it had killed two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon. Muhammad Ali Hadid, a senior member of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, was eliminated in Nabatieh, while another operative was struck in Ayta ash Shab after being seen collecting intelligence on Israeli positions.
«The terrorists’ activities violated the understandings between Israel and Lebanon,» the IDF said in a statement. «The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel.»
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir watch as the IDF carries out strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. (Ministry of Defense)
The senior officer said the operations reflect Israel’s new, proactive security doctrine. «If somebody threatens us, we take control of the situation and make the threat go away,» he said. «We pushed Hezbollah back, so civilians could return. Now we’re fortifying those gains and acting to prevent their recovery.»
That, he added, is the lesson Israel learned from Oct. 7. «Until then, we sometimes looked the other way. That’s over. We’re not sitting and waiting for the next rocket.»
A flag bearing the picture of assassinated pro-Iranian Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah flutters in front of a picture of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a ceremony marking the first anniversary of Nasrallah’s assassination in an Israeli airstrike at his grave in Beirut. Beirut, Lebanon, Sept. 27, 2025. (Marwan Naamani/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)
The officer said the IDF’s 91st Division recently completed its largest exercise since the start of the war, designed to strengthen operational readiness for both defense and offensive operations along the Lebanese border — at sea, in the air, and on land.
«We tested our defensive systems, coordination, and rapid-response capabilities,» he said. «We’re applying every lesson from Oct. 7 so our response next time will be immediate.»
Israeli soldiers take part in an IDF exercise to enhance operational readiness along the Lebanon border in Oct. 2025 (IDF)
According to Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, intelligence officials believe Hezbollah is rapidly rebuilding its arsenal with Iranian assistance. The group has partially restored its weapons supply chain through Syria and Iraq, despite disruptions following the collapse of the Assad regime last year.
The Trump administration has also expressed frustration over Beirut’s failure to curb Hezbollah. U.S. Special Envoy Thomas Barrack recently described Lebanon as «a failed state» because of its «paralyzed government,» and that Hezbollah pays its fighters more than the national army soldiers earns.
EXCLUSIVE: A LOOK AT HEZBOLLAH’S PLAN TO TERRORIZE AND INVADE NORTHERN ISRAEL
Commuters drive past a newly-installed billboard bearing the image of a Lebanese flag and a statement that reads in Arabic «Lebanon a new era», replacing a Hezbollah billboard, on the road leading to Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International airport on April 10, 2025. (Photo by Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images)
Responding to Israel’s preemptive strikes last week, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi urged his visiting German counterpart on Friday to «help pressure Israel to halt its attacks.»
«Only a diplomatic solution, not a military one, can ensure stability and maintain calm in the south,» Raggi said, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).
He added that the Lebanese government «is gradually moving forward with its decision to bring all weapons under state control.»
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday voiced «deep concerns», urging all parties «to fully commit to the cessation of hostilities.»
UNIFIL added that it remains in contact with the Lebanese Armed Forces and emphasized that extending state authority «is at the very core of Resolution 1701.»
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IDF troops fighting Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon. (IDF Spokesman’s Unit.)
Despite diplomatic criticism, Israeli commanders insist they will not allow Hezbollah to rebuild.
«We won’t wait for another Oct. 7,» the Israeli officer said. «We’re vigilant, we’re rebuilding, and we’re ready. The quiet we have now depends on Hezbollah’s choices — not on our willingness to defend ourselves.»
israel,lebanon,conflicts,terrorism
INTERNACIONAL
White House slams Mamdani’s ‘completely irresponsible’ comments linking Trump to threats against voters
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The White House slammed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani after he linked the Trump administration to threats against voters in New Jersey.
On Tuesday, as New Jerseyans went to cast their ballots, bomb threats forced voters out of multiple polling places. While the threats were found to be non-credible, they still caused a disruption to those looking to exercise their right to vote for the Garden State’s next governor. When asked about the threats in his neighboring state, Mamdani made comments that raised eyebrows and rocked the West Wing.
Mamdani called the threats «incredibly concerning» and said that he believed they were «an illustration of the attacks we’re seeing on our democracy.»
«We have to understand this as part of the general approach the Trump administration has taken to trying to intimidate voters with baseless allegations of voter fraud as a means of trying to repress the voice of Americans across this country,» Mamdani said.
MAMDANI VOWS TO DEFY TRUMP IN FIERY FINAL MARCH FROM BROOKLYN BRIDGE TO CITY HALL AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY
The White House said Zohran Mamdani’s comments on the bomb threats in New Jersey were «completely irresponsible.» (Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post via Getty Images; Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Mamdani’s remarks were «completely irresponsible» and not based in fact.
«I think they are completely irresponsible, and they are based on zero evidence. And I think this is just another example of how the Democrat Party unfortunately stands for nothing. All they stand against is President Donald Trump. And I think it’s quite sad to see that we have someone at the top of the ticket on an Election Day today saying such things about the president, when he obviously had absolutely nothing to do with those threats,» Leavitt said in response to a question from Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich.
On Monday, Trump, who has been an outspoken critic of Mamdani, backed former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral race.
«I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a record of success, WIN, than a communist with no experience and a record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE. He was nothing as an assemblyman, ranked at the bottom of the class and, as mayor of potentially, again, the greatest city in the World, HE HAS NO CHANCE to bring it back to its former glory!,» Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani votes at a voting site on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York City. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova)
TRUMP BACKS CUOMO AND THREATENS TO CUT FEDERAL FUNDING IF ‘COMMUNIST MAMDANI’ WINS NYC MAYOR RACE
«We must also remember this — A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job,» Trump added. «He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!»
Trump, a native New Yorker, also said that if Mamdani were to win, it would be «highly unlikely that I will be contributing federal funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home.»
Cuomo responded, saying that Trump «doesn’t support me,» but rather «he opposes Mamdani.»
«He believes that Mamdani is an existential threat to New York,» Cuomo added.
Andrew Cuomo leaves a campaign stop in New York City on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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«The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump’s understanding that this would be the best mayor for him,» Mamdani said at a press event in New York on the eve of the election. «Not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump and his administration.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s campaign for comment on Leavitt’s response.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey contributed to this report.
zohran mamdani,donald trump,new york city,white house,politics
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