Lisa Hagen

The fallout of the 43-day-long government shutdown will linger for some time in Connecticut, even after all federal workers returned to work. Workers are awaiting missed paychecks, and programs and services that rely on federal grants have stalled, though both are expected to resume soon. And local food pantries hope to bounce back amid the funding lapse of federal nutrition assistance.

The House returned Wednesday after a nearly two-month break and took the final step toward ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. But members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation, who opposed the deal because it didn’t extend health care subsidies, were not counted among the yes votes.

Chris Murphy was known as a lead negotiator during the Biden administration, tackling thorny political issues like gun safety and immigration.

The longest shutdown in U.S. history is starting to wind down after a bloc of Senate Democrats joined Republicans on a deal to reopen the federal government, but Connecticut’s senators opposed the agreement because it made no guarantee to extend the policy at the heart of the shutdown fight: expiring health care subsidies.

Congressional Democrats say they feel emboldened in their push to preserve health care benefits amid the shutdown of the federal government after resounding victories in Tuesday’s elections in Connecticut and across the country.

Subsidies that help lower costs for Affordable Care Act health plans are set to expire at the end of the year, and without congressional action, premiums are expected to rise in 2026. The enhanced premium subsidies have been in the spotlight in recent weeks as the shutdown of the federal government drags on.

November is a critical month in the federal government shutdown if it drags on for at least a couple of more weeks — and Connecticut would feel the effects across a few federally funded programs, namely around nutrition assistance and child care.

Connecticut officials are bracing for a key federal nutrition assistance program to stop abruptly in 10 days, absent intervention from President Trump’s administration or an end to the federal government shutdown.

Luke Bronin took an early fundraising lead among Democrats vying for Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District seat, currently held by U.S. Rep. John Larson, but some candidates are using new strategies in a race becoming increasingly skeptical of traditional ways of amassing donations.

President Donald Trump called for an investigation into Blumenthal Tuesday night, re-litigating a 2008 comment in which the senator said he “served in Vietnam.”