US Senators Reach Bipartisan Deal to End Record 40-Day Government Shutdown
The shutdown has heavily affected US air travel, with more than 2,700 flights cancelled and nearly 10,000 delayed over the weekend.
Washington: US senators have reached a bipartisan agreement to resume federal funding, bringing hope of an end to a record 40-day government shutdown that has disrupted numerous government operations.
The deal, struck between Democratic and Republican senators, is a temporary measure aimed at funding the government through January. It comes after weeks of disagreement over health care subsidies, food assistance programs, and President Donald Trump’s recent firings of federal employees.
President Trump, returning from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, said Sunday, “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.” The Republican-led Senate swiftly held a procedural vote to advance the legislation, with enough support from Democrats to move it forward. The bill still needs approval from the House of Representatives before being signed into law by the president, a process that could take several days.
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The shutdown has heavily affected US air travel, with more than 2,700 flights cancelled and nearly 10,000 delayed over the weekend. Airports including New York’s LaGuardia and Newark, Chicago’s O’Hare, and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson were among the worst affected. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that continued shutdown could severely impact travel for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 27.
The bill would restore funding for the SNAP food stamp program, reverse recent federal employee firings, and guarantee a vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits. Senate Democrat Tim Kaine said the deal “protects federal workers from baseless firings, reinstates those wrongfully terminated, and ensures back pay as required by law.”
However, opposition remains among some Senate Democrats. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the bill, saying it fails to directly extend health care subsidies, and called for continued efforts to address the health care crisis.
The bipartisan deal marks a significant step toward ending the longest federal shutdown in US history, though challenges remain before normal government operations and federal services are fully restored.
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