U.S. government shutdown may stretch into November

The U.S. federal government shutdown entered its 28th day on Tuesday as the Senate rejected a stopgap funding bill for the 13th time. The final vote was 54 to 45, short of the 60 votes needed to pass.

Republicans proposed the bill to reopen the federal government. The House of Representatives has approved it, but it still needs the Senate's approval.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said that the 28-day government shutdown could continue into November, when millions face rising health insurance costs from expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits. With hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, others working without pay, and federal food assistance will end in days.

Democratic governors and attorneys general from 25 states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging its conclusion that it lacks the authority to use emergency funds to continue food assistance for millions of Americans next month.

The officials, including those from California, New York, and the District of Columbia, announced they are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture for unlawfully suspending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

According to U.S. media, SNAP is the country's biggest anti-hunger program, helping nearly 42 million people, most of whom live at or below the federal poverty line.

U.S. air traffic controllers demanded an end to the federal government shutdown as they became the latest employees to miss a paycheck.

Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary, said that air traffic controller absences continued to disrupt flights as they missed their first full paycheck.

Hundreds of U.S. air traffic controllers have taken on temporary second jobs, increasing pressure on an already strained aviation safety system, according to National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels.

The U.S. Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index released on Tuesday was 94.6 in October, down one point from an upwardly revised 95.6 in September, but still above market expectations of 93.4.

The consensus among economists was 93.4 in October, down from 94.2 in September and 97.8 in August, indicating consumers are pessimistic about current conditions and the outlook.

(With input from Xinhua, Reuters)