Washington, D.C.: The U.S. Senate today approved a bipartisan compromise to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, a weeks-long deadlock that has affected millions of Americans, including federal workers who had gone unpaid for weeks.
The deal passed with a 60-40 vote, securing the support of nearly all Republicans and a handful of Democrats. The agreement restores funding for federal agencies that lapsed on October 1st and will extend government funding until January 30th. It also protects federal workers from layoffs until that date, a setback for President Donald Trump’s efforts to downsize the federal workforce.
The bill will now move to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson intends to pass it quickly and send it to President Trump for signing. Mr. Trump called the deal “very good.”
Health Subsidies and Democratic Anger
The compromise includes a December vote on health insurance subsidies that benefit 24 million Americans and are due to expire soon, though it provides no guarantee of their extension. This lack of certainty has angered many Democrats, especially after the party’s recent high-profile election victories in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. “We wish we could do more,” said Senator Dick Durbin, noting that the shutdown failed to lead to better policy outcomes.
Fiscal Concerns and SNAP Funding
The agreement leaves the federal government on track to add approximately $1.8 trillion a year to its $38 trillion debt. Furthermore, the deal does not contain specific guardrails to prevent Mr. Trump from enacting further unilateral spending cuts, actions that have previously violated congressional spending laws. However, a significant provision ensures the SNAP food-subsidy program remains funded until September 30th of next year, preventing immediate disruption.
Trump Threatens Air Traffic Controllers Amid Flight Chaos
Meanwhile, the President issued a stern warning to air traffic controllers who have been absent during the 41-day shutdown, which has caused severe disruptions to U.S. aviation. An airline trade group reported that 1.2 million customers had flights delayed or cancelled over the weekend due to soaring air traffic controller absences.
Mr. Trump demanded that all controllers “REPORT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY,” threatening to “substantially ‘dock'” the pay of any controller who does not return. He also proposed $10,000 bonuses for those who have not taken time off, though officials questioned how the White House could legally deny pay or fund the bonuses. The President merely told Fox News, “I don’t know – I’ll get it from some place.”
The FAA, already 3,500 controllers short of its target, has imposed ground delays or stops at nine major U.S. airports, including Houston, New York, and Chicago, due to the staffing crisis exacerbated by the unpaid work during the shutdown.
