The US government shutdown that has left thousands of federal workers unpaid, disrupted food benefits for millions of Americans and left travelers stranded may soon end as the Senate approved a government reopening bill on Monday.
The 41-day shutdown could last a few more days as a final 60-40 Senate vote broke the deadlock.
Democrats demanded that Republicans renegotiate the health care tax cuts that expire on January 1. However, with GOP leaders disagreeing with the request, several Democrats, including three former governors, eventually changed votes to break the funding impasse.
Trump called the deal to reopen the government “very good.”
Read also | The Senate passed a bill to end the record 41-day shutdown of the US government
When will the House vote?
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told lawmakers that the House could begin voting on the Senate-passed bill to end the government shutdown as early as Wednesday at 4 p.m.
“It appears that our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
He also urged lawmakers to start returning to Washington due to the shutdown, as an official announcement said the House would not vote until Wednesday afternoon at the earliest.
Read also | Is a US disengagement deal coming? Fewer flight delays, SNAP benefit, paychecks could return
What does the legislation say?
According to an AP report, the legislation includes reversing the Trump administration’s mass layoffs of federal workers since the shutdown began. It also protects federal workers from further layoffs until January and guarantees they will be paid after the shutdown ends.
The deal would extend funding through Jan. 30 and, for now, would keep the federal government on track to add about $1.8 trillion a year to its $38 trillion debt.
The deal also includes provisions for a bipartisan budget process and prevents the White House from using continuing resolutions to fund the government, CNBC reported.
New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said she has reached a point where she thinks many of them believed the shutdown was very effective in raising concerns about health care.
“For more than a month, I’ve been making it clear that my priorities are both to reopen the government and to expand the ACA’s premium tax credits. This is our best path to achieving both of those goals,” Jeanne Shaheen said in a post on X.
Read also | Trump says the US doesn’t want foreign students, but there’s a catch
8 senators who broke with the Democrats
Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada)
John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
Flight cancellations
Due to the absence of air traffic controllers, the US aviation system has suffered serious disruptions in recent days. FAA restrictions led to the cancellation of several flights. Due to the shutdown, air traffic controllers have to miss their second paycheck.
According to reports, over 2,000 flights have been canceled in the last five days. Transport Minister Sean Duffy has warned that if the shutdown continues, air travel could be “slowed to a trickle” over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and LaGuardia Airport saw the most cancellations, according to a Bloomberg report.
“All air traffic controllers must go back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will basically be ‘docked,'” Trump wrote on social media.
“REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO JOB,” Trump added.
Will the flight disruption end immediately?
Flight disruptions are likely to continue for several more days even after the government shutdown ends. The airlines said they would need time to start full operations.
“Reduced airline schedules cannot immediately return to full capacity immediately after the government reopens. It will take time and there will be residual effects for several days. With the Thanksgiving travel season starting next week and the busy shipping season around the corner, now is the time to act to help mitigate further impacts on Americans,” the airlines said in a statement.
