What we're covering
• Trump’s Asia trip: President Donald Trump has left Japan and is now on his way to South Korea, where he will attend an Asian economic summit, meet with the prime minister, and is expected to hold a high-stakes meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
• Day 28 of shutdown: Senate Democrats again blocked Republicans’ stopgap funding bill from advancing as both parties remain firm in their positions. Vice President JD Vance met with GOP senators today as Senate Democrats insist the impasse won’t end until Trump gets involved.
• Shutdown impacts: The Federal Aviation Administration is reporting staffing shortages and flight delays as air traffic controllers missed their first full paycheck since the shutdown began. And a coalition of 25 Democratic-run states sued the Trump administration to prevent billions of dollars in cuts to federal food assistance that are set to kick in this weekend.
Trump expects "big step" on fentanyl in meeting with Xi
US President Donald Trump said he expects to make a “big step” on the issue of fentanyl in his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday.
“We’re going to make a big step with fentanyl,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Gyeongju, South Korea Wednesday morning local time. “Fentanyl will be one of the things we will be discussing.”
Asked whether he would lower fentanyl-related tariffs on China, Trump said:
Trump added that, “China is going to be working with me,” when asked whether Beijing would work with US law enforcement on combating fentanyl.
“They’re going to be working with me, and we’re going to do something.”
Trump said his “focus” was on his “big meeting” with Xi on Thursday, during which fentanyl will be one of a number of topic up for discussion.
“I want to make that the focus,” he said of China.
On rare earths, Trump said he hasn’t talked about timings but “we’re going to work out something.”
Beijing, unlike Washington has yet to confirm the talks between Xi and Trump.
For context: China has long maintained that the fentanyl crisis is the “US’s problem” and that China has already done “tremendous work” to address the issue. You can read more here.
Trump departs Japan after jam-packed visit
President Donald Trump has departed Tokyo after a two-day stop where he nurtured the US-Japan relationship and fortified ties with the country’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi.
Marine One landed at Haneda Airport just before 8:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. Wednesday local time) and a short time later Trump boarded Air Force One, bound for South Korea.
While in Japan, Trump was effusive in his praise of Takaichi.
Trump is traveling to Gyeongju, South Korea, where he will participate at the APEC CEO summit, meet the country’s new president, and hold a high-stakes meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping.
Analysis: Trump’s tariffs have dramatically reshaped South Korea and Japan
As President Donald Trump continues his Asia tour with a final stop in South Korea after departing Japan, businesses in both economic powerhouses are closely watching to see if his meetings with their leaders will offer more clarity to their trade relations with Washington.
Even though the longtime US allies negotiated tariff rates of 15%, a lower rate than many other countries, the increase from virtually zero has dampened both economies.
Adding to the strain are the massive US investment pledges – $350 billion from Seoul and $550 billion from Tokyo – agreed upon to help secure the tariff reduction. Critics have likened these packages to US extortion, while the details of the agreements remain unclear and implementation plans are still being worked out.
In South Korea, exports, which make up more than 40% of the country’s GDP, are forecast to slow sharply this year due to Trump’s tariffs, according to government thinktank Korea Development Institute’s research in August.
Despite preliminary trade agreements, the US effective tariff rate remains elevated at levels not seen since the 1930s, the think tank said.
On Tuesday, the South Korean economy reported a better-than-expected growth at 1.2%, according to data from the Bank of Korea. Still, experts warned that the country’s export-reliant economy remains vulnerable to Trump’s trade measures.
President Lee Jae Myung has said South Korea’s final trade deal with the US remains at an impasse as details of the $350 billion investment commitment have yet to be finalized. The recent ICE raid on a massive Hyundai factory in Georgia added additional friction between Seoul and Washington.
“Seoul recognizes its alliance with Washington is essential, but also that it will be subject to continuous negotiation under the Trump administration,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. “Not all trade issues will be resolved by APEC summitry as further iterations of both economic and security deals are likely in the months ahead.”
Asked by CNN whether he expects to sign a finalized trade deal with Trump, Lee said last week that he would like to reach a result “as soon as possible” but bridging all the gaps would take time.
“I believe that we will in the end be able to reach a rational result that can be acceptable,” he said.
Washington, DC, air control staffing problems reported, bringing total to 12 for the day
One additional staffing problem was reported in the 8 p.m. Federal Aviation Administration operations update, bringing the total to 12 staffing shortages for the day.
The Potomac TRACON, which handles flights approaching or departing the Washington, DC, area, is short-staffed from 12:30 am to 5:30am ET.
According to earlier FAA reports, the Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center, which handles flights at high altitude, is short staffed until 8:30 p.m. ET. Jacksonville Center is short staffed until 9 p.m. ET, the FAA reported.
The TRACON, which controls flights arriving or departing Orlando International Airport, is short staffed until midnight.
The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s control tower will be short-staffed until 11 p.m. ET.
The TRACON, which handles flights approaching and departing Phoenix, does not have a normal complement of workers until 1 a.m. ET. The TRACON for Newark Liberty International Airport is short-staffed until 9 p.m. ET. The same operation was short staffed this morning, along with the approach facility in Atlanta.
A staffing shortage was reported at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center, which handles flights at higher altitudes, until 11 p.m. ET. The Denver tower and another part of the Denver center were also short staffed earlier today.
Today’s 12 problems bring the total reported to 284 since the start of the shutdown, more than four times the number on the same dates last year.
FAA administrator thanks employees who are not being paid starting today
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration Bryan Bedford thanked workers in an email Tuesday, for “doing the jobs they are paid to do,” even though starting today “our people are not receiving paychecks.”
The letter also warned that air travel delays could increase, but he vowed not to compromise safety.
“As we continue another shutdown week, delays may increase. However, we will continue to operate a safe system, even if that means slowing down operations,” he wrote.
House Oversight Committee Chair says "pardon process has been abused"
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer said today that he would like to see reforms to the way presidents issue pardons, arguing that the process “has been abused.”
Comer’s remarks come hours after the release of the committee’s letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, in which the panel asserted that executive actions by former President Joe Biden that were signed by autopen are void.
The chairman also weighed in on the Trump family’s crypto income, arguing to Tapper that they are transparent about their earnings.
“From an ethics standpoint and from an oversight standpoint, the president is disclosing this income and, and that, I think, is the most important part: the transparency,” Comer said.
Trump has thrown all norms “out the window” making it difficult for Democrats to negotiate, Gallego says
Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona says that Democrats cannot negotiate with Republicans like they have in the past because President Donald Trump has thrown norms “out the window.”
CNN’s Kasie Hunt brought up that in the past when Republicans have tried to use a government shutdown to make the case for their agenda, Democrats have argued “that the norms of our government should be that you negotiate policy outside of a government shutdown.” She pressed Gallego on why it’s different now for Democrats to use the same tactic.
“Oh, that’s an easy answer, it’s Donald Trump,” Gallego said. “It’s all out the window, Kasie.”
Gallego said of Trump, “He’s literally, you know, breaking every rules. We’re not going to go back and play by the norms when we know that what’s on the line. What’s on the line is 24 million people are going to have their insurance rates premiums doubled.”
Gallego later added that he’s “not going to abide by old norms, especially when you’re dealing with this presidency, this administration and how the Republicans themselves have been acting.”
Separately, Hunt asked Gallego about Trump entertaining the thought of running for a third term.
“I don’t take it seriously because he will, you know, be in violation of the Constitution, and he should be arrested if he attempts to do that,” the Arizona senator said.
Nvidia CEO explains company’s donation to White House ballroom project
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Tuesday he was “delighted” to be among the companies that donated to President Donald Trump’s ballroom construction project at the White House.
“I love when I come to Washington, DC, and you’re (seeing) the incredible majesty of the beautiful buildings, just incredible architecture scope,” he said. “I’m just glad to be part of it.”
The comments come ahead of a planned meeting between Huang and Trump in South Korea at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit this week. Nvidia said in August it was seeking clarity from the White House on how it could restart sales of its advanced AI chips to China, after agreeing to pay the US government 15% of its revenue from China sales.
Ballroom donors: Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Google, Comcast and Meta are among the major companies that have made donations to build Trump’s proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom, according to the White House.
Trump has repeatedly said that work on the ballroom, which he expected to cost about $300 million, is privately funded by himself and donors and will cost nothing to taxpayers.
Air traffic control staffing shortages reported in Phoenix and Dallas, FAA operations plan says
The latest Federal Aviation Administration operations plan reports additional staffing shortages tonight in Dallas and Phoenix.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s control tower is short staffed from 5 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET.
The TRACON, which handles flights approaching and departing Phoenix, does not have a normal complement of workers from 7:30 p.m. ET to 1 a.m. ET.
Earlier Tuesday, a staffing shortage was reported at the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center, which handles flights at higher altitudes, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. The Denver tower and another part of the Denver center were also short staffed earlier today.
And a new staffing shortage was reported for controllers dealing with flights arriving or departing Newark Liberty International Airport from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET. The same operation was short staffed this morning, along with the approach facility in Atlanta.
The total reported staffing issues is now up to 280 since the start of the shutdown — more than four times the number on the same dates last year.
GOP senators raise concerns during lunch with Vance about Trump's suggestion US buy beef from Argentina
A group of frustrated GOP senators repeatedly pressed Vice President JD Vance in a closed-door meeting today over the administration’s suggestion that the US buy beef from Argentina – a plan that has rattled American ranchers.
Sen. Ted Cruz called it “the single most discussed topic” of the lunch, telling reporters the vice president listened to and heard the “strenuous views” of multiple senators.
Inside the room, GOP senators from agricultural states sought more information from Vance on the White House’s surprise announcement of a plan to increase imports of Argentinian beef to help lower beef prices in the US.
“I think it’s safe to say there was a lot of discussion about cattle ranchers,” Sen. Josh Hawley told reporters with a chuckle.
West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice said GOP senators brought personal stories about how their constituents are being impacted by the Trump administration’s decision.
“He’s concerned about that,” Justice said of Vance. “He wants absolutely for sure that the messaging is that the Trump administration loves the ranchers and loves the cattle producers. You know, we don’t want to get in a situation where all of a sudden we’ve got a bunch of people that are really upset.”
Israel and China also came up during the lunch, according to senators.
South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham said Vance told Senate Republicans he expects “Israel to be able to defend itself.”
Texas Sen. John Cornyn said Vance was “very optimistic” about a China trade deal.
House Democrats' top appropriator argues White House must use SNAP emergency funds: "Not optional spending"
House Democrats’ top appropriator Rep. Rosa DeLauro on Tuesday argued that the White House is in violation of the law by not tapping into an emergency fund for food stamp benefits amid the shutdown.
“I am the ranking member on the Appropriations committee, and I promise you that there is funding available to provide SNAP benefits beyond November 1. There is at the very least over $5 billion in contingency funds that Congress set aside – Congress, Democrats and Republicans – set aside explicitly to pay out SNAP benefits in the event of some unforeseen circumstances, like President Trump’s shutdown,” DeLauro told reporters.
She argued that the contingency fund set aside for food stamp program, or SNAP, is “not optional spending.”
“It is required by the law. We appropriated that money for this purpose. The White House must spend it, and what they are doing right now, blocking these funds from going out is illegal,” she said.
The Trump administration has argued it does not have the power to use that pot of existing money — known as a contingency fund — to cover the SNAP program beyond Saturday, because of the federal government shutdown. But Democrats are pushing back.
DeLauro added, “Does anyone actually believe for one second that if President Trump really wanted to cover the SNAP benefit, they would not be able to find the money?”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of “threatening to weaponize hunger” by not using the SNAP emergency funds.
House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters earlier today that the White House had tried to find funds for SNAP benefits, but that Democrats, in voting against the House-passed short-term spending bill, “voted against the ability of us to use that money.”
Schumer rejects union's pleas to open government immediately
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer rejected the largest public sector union’s urgent pleas to pass a short-term funding bill and reopen the government immediately.
Schumer spoke to the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Everett Kelley, and said his message was, “We can do both, and we need to do both” — holding firm on Democrats’ demand to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies before voting on a stop-gap bill.
As another looming deadline hangs over the millions of Americans who could soon see their federal food assistance dry up, Schumer also announced that Democrats would introduce a bill to extend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and benefits from the Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
The top Senate Democrat said he thinks there could be “universal” support for a measure in his caucus, though moments before, Senate Majority Leader John Thune threw cold water on bringing standalone SNAP bills to the floor, including bipartisan legislation led by GOP Sen. Josh Hawley.
“Bottom line, it’s time for Republicans to start getting serious about ending this shutdown before families lose their health care, their food and their faith that the President that leaders will deliver for them,” Schumer said.
Thune defends White House refusal to dip into emergency funds for food aid
Senate Majority Leader John Thune defended the administration’s refusal to dip into $5 billion of emergency funds in order to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beyond this week.
Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, and other senators have said it is possible for the administration to use that money for expiring SNAP benefits, as past administrations have done during a shutdown.
“I think the White House, obviously, is faced with a tough decision,” Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, told CNN. “They’re doing everything they can legally and with the capacity that they have available to them to try and make this, I think, as painless as possible. But there is a point at which they don’t have that capacity anymore and I think we’ve reached that point.”
Thune added, “Why wouldn’t you just open it up and have everybody get their benefits?”
Thune also shot down the idea of holding one-off votes on paying specific federal workers, like air traffic controllers, or keeping SNAP funded. He argued that is the “wrong way to do this,” despite some GOP senators introducing options.
Judge extends order blocking the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the shutdown
A federal judge in San Francisco indefinitely barred the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the government shutdown today.
US District Judge Susan Illston granted a preliminary injunction that bars the firings while a lawsuit challenging them plays out. She had previously issued a temporary restraining order against the job cuts that was set to expire tomorrow.
Illston, who was nominated by former Democratic President Bill Clinton, has said she believes the evidence will ultimately show the mass firings were illegal and in excess of authority.
The Republican administration has slashed jobs in education, health and other areas it says are favored by Democrats.
The American Federation of Government Employees and other labor unions have sued to stop the “reductions in force” layoffs, saying the firings were an abuse of power designed to punish workers and pressure Congress.
Lawyers for the government say the district court does not have the authority to hear personnel challenges.
During a hearing on October 15, Illston said the layoff notices that started going out on or around October 10 appeared to be politically motivated and not well thought out. About 4,100 layoff notices have gone out, some sent to work email addresses that furloughed employees are not allowed to check. Some personnel were called back to work, without pay, to issue layoff notices.
Senate Democrats again blocked a GOP-led funding bill as the government shutdown persists. Catch up here
Republicans’ funding bill to end the government shutdown failed for a 13th time today as Democrats hold their ground and continue to push for the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Republicans need 60 votes to advance the bill that would fund the government through late November.
Three senators in the Democratic caucus voted with most Republicans. GOP Sen. Rand Paul voted against advancing the measure.
Meanwhile, impacts from the shutdown are being felt by Americans across the country.
If you’re just joining us, here’s where things stand:
- Travel turmoil: Air traffic controllers received their first $0 paycheck since the shutdown began nearly 30 days ago today. This comes after the Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing shortages and flight delays. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of “longer-term implications” for the federal government shutdown, noting if it continues, it could impact holiday travel.
- SNAP benefit concerns: Millions of Americans could lose access to the crucial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the coming weeks amid the federal government shutdown. The US Department of Agriculture has said it does not have the money to pay $8 billion in food stamp benefits for November amid the funding impasse. Currently, there is a bipartisan bill in the Senate to continue SNAP benefits, but it’s unclear if the standalone legislation will make it to the floor.
- States step in: Meanwhile, states are dipping into their own funds to help residents who rely on food stamps. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said his state is building its own food assistance system for residents and South Carolina is activating a statewide charity fund typically used after hurricanes.
- Lawsuit: Separately, a coalition of 25 Democratic-run states, plus Washington, DC, sued the Trump administration today to prevent billions of dollars of cuts to federal food assistance that are set to kick in this weekend.
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer, Dianne Gallagher, Marshall Cohen, Sarah Ferris, Michael Williams, Tami Luhby, Alison Main, Manu Raju, Casey Riddle, Alexandra Skores and Aaron Cooper contributed to this report.
Vance dodges on Israeli strikes ordered in Gaza
Vice President JD Vance dodged when asked whether Israel ordering strikes in Gaza could spell the end for the ceasefire.
“The president achieved a historic peace in the Middle East, the ceasefire is holding,” he insisted. “That doesn’t mean that there aren’t going to be little skirmishes here and there.”
Vance also said that he encouraged his Republican colleagues to vote against the resolutions expected this week aimed at blocking the tariffs on Brazil, Canada and other nations.
“The point that I made to my Republican colleagues, recognizing there’s a diversity of opinions about it, is that the tariffs give us the ability to put American workers first. They force American industry to reinvest in the United States of America instead of a foreign country. They’re also incredible leverage for the President of the United States in negotiating these trade deals overseas,” he told reporters.
“To vote against that is to strip that incredible leverage from the President of the United States. I think it’s a huge mistake, and I know most of the people in there agree with me.”
Vance throws cold water on dipping into emergency funds to pay for federal food aid
Vice President JD Vance seemed cool to bipartisan calls for the White House to free up $5 billion in emergency funds to help millions of Americans who could see their federal food aid dry up by this weekend.
Leaving a Senate GOP lunch, Vance was asked by CNN about calls by Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Collins and other senators to use the money for expiring SNAP benefits as past administrations have done during a shutdown.
But Vance seemed to throw cold water on the request.
“We’re trying to keep as much open as possible, and we’re exploring all options. There are limitations on all these funds, there are limitations on how you can use them,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a limited pot of money, so even if you use them for one thing, that means you can’t use them for another. We are trying as much as possible to ensure that critical food benefits get paid, that our military gets paid.”
Vance added that the military will receive their paychecks on Friday.
“We believe that we can continue to pay the troops on Friday. Unfortunately, we’re not gonna be able to pay everybody, because we’ve been handed a very bad hand by the Democrats,” he said.
“This is one of the reasons why you’ve seen some layoffs in the federal workforce. We do think that we can continue paying the troops, at least for now. We’ve got food stamp benefits that are set to run out in a week. We’re trying to keep as much open as possible. We just need the Democrats to actually help.”
Senate Democrats forcing first of 3 votes aimed at blocking Trump's tariffs tonight
Senate Democrats will force the first of three votes aimed at rescinding various Trump administration tariffs tonight.
This first vote is aimed at tariffs on Brazil. President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil after it prosecuted his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, over an alleged coup attempt.
One Republican – Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul – is joining Democrats in sponsoring the measure.
“I am alarmed by the Brazilian government’s persecution of a former president and authoritarian repression of freedom of speech, but that has no bearing on the constitutional limits of our own executive,” Paul said in a statement. “The President of the United States does not have the authority under IEEPA to unilaterally impose tariffs. Trade policy belongs to Congress, not the White House.”
Fetterman laments Democrats continued block of GOP funding plan
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman on Tuesday lamented his party’s continued resistance to Republicans’ government funding legislation after his party blocked the GOP plan for the 13th time.
The Pennsylvania Democrat called it an “absurdity” that a nonprofit group, the World Central Kitchen, has begun distributing meals to federal workers. “Pay these people. Open things up. I don’t know why we’re in this, doing in this situation,” he said.
Asked if he blamed Democrats for Americans potentially losing federal food assistance benefits in the near future, Fetterman responded, “If you’re doing this entirely for extending (Affordable Care Act) tax credits, of course there’s accountability in that. And I believe two things are true: I want to have those tax credits extending but that means the government should be open and have that conversation.”
He noted to reporters that the GOP funding bill maintains Biden-era spending levels.
“This is the Biden CR. I just voted yes on that. That is a Biden CR. We voted that multiple times. It shouldn’t be controversial for us,” he said.
Republicans warn of "rifle-shot" funding strategy amid shutdown
Republican senators weighed in on whether GOP leaders should consider holding votes on standalone bills to approve funding for certain government operations.
Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said he would support Sen. Josh Hawley’s bill to fund the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program through the shutdown, but also warned the strategy of taking up rifle-shot legislation could prolong the stalemate on Capitol Hill.
“I don’t think we ought to let anyone go hungry…,” Kennedy said. “Taking the longer view, if you start taking the pressure off senators, then that means the shutdown lasts that much longer. And once you start picking and choosing this group versus that, I’m willing to consider each on the merits, but you enter a slippery slope.”
Sen. Jon Husted of Ohio said, “The rifle-shot approach is appealing at some level because we don’t want to see people suffer but the way to prevent everyone from suffering is to reopen the government.”
“I’m for paying the military, I’m for funding SNAP, but the way to do it rather than a dozen rifle-shots is to just pass a clean CR and get this done,” he continued.
