43 days of tragedy and uncertainty finally ended Thursday when President Donald Trump signed into law ending the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history, bringing relief to thousands of federal workers, millions of Americans who rely on SNAP food assistance and travelers across the U.S. affected by flight restrictions.
“Today we are sending a clear message that we will never back down from blackmail,” Donald Trump said in a message to Democrats.
Trump stated that as we get down to business and other things, don’t forget what they have done to our country, “With my signature, the federal government … will now resume normal operations.”
Read also | Donald Trump ended a historic 43-day government shutdown by signing the funding bill
Although the shutdown is now over, the emotional and economic toll and ripple effects of the week’s tragedy are far from over. Federal employees will now return to work and agencies will try to restore services, but questions still remain about package pay, delayed benefits and when the disrupted flight service fully returns to normal.
— Federal agencies and the Department of Health and Human Services have reportedly asked employees to return to work.
— 6,70,000 dismissed civil servants will return to work,
— More than 60,000 air traffic controllers and airport security personnel will receive back pay.
Read also | Trump signs bill to end longest government shutdown in US history. what’s next
Will flight operations be fully restored?
Air travel delays across the United States are likely to continue over the next few days as several flights remain canceled, although delays may improve as air traffic controllers return to work. Authorities will aim to lift flight restrictions at major airports within a week, Transport Minister Sean Duffy said.
Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an order ordering airlines to reduce flights at 40 airports, and today the agency announced that the reduction will remain at 6%. But flights won’t return to normal soon after the federal government reopens, according to aviation experts.
“We are pleased that the government shutdown is over and we are already experiencing significantly fewer air traffic control deficiencies, resulting in fewer delays and cancellations for our customers,” American Air said.
The airline added that they are prepared to increase but expect some ongoing delays and cancellations as air traffic control and the FAA return to normal operations.
Delta Airlines said it looks forward to returning our operations to full capacity over the next few days and providing our customers with a premium experience.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford said safety is and always will be their top priority.
When do auditors get paid?
According to Sean Duffy, comptrollers would receive 70% of their missed pay within 24 to 48 hours of the government reopening. While the remaining pay would come about a week later.
Read also | Will US flights resume? Relief in sight for Americans as the government shutdown nears its end
A big pending concern
Gibson Jones, president of the National Treasury Employees Union Local 98 in Memphis, told CNN that it will take “two to three months for the Internal Revenue Service to catch up” on pending tax returns from those who filed for extensions.
An education worker told the broadcaster it was “heartbreaking” to see the emails piling up, including desperate pleas from parents of affected children.
For the FDA, it will take days for labs to get used to testing food and preventing foodborne illness.
When do federal workers get paid?
During the previous shutdown, workers were paid in a few days, but this time it may take some time. According to the CBC, under the 2019 law, workers who miss paychecks during a federal funding blackout must be paid back once the shutdown ends.
Jacqueline Simon, director of policy at the American Federation of Government Employees, told CNN it could take longer because many of the agency’s human resources staff will be laid off.
When will SNAP benefits resume?
Although there is no clear timetable for payment of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which affected food access for about 42 million Americans during the shutdown, recipients are expected to have their accounts fully restored within hours of the federal government’s reopening, the NYT reported.
During the shutdown, many states maintained full SNAP benefits using emergency funds.
The USDA told USA TODAY that payments should resume in most states within 24 hours of the government reopening.
