Government Shutdown Nears End as Senate Advances Funding bill, House members Ordered Back to D.C.
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The U.S. government appears poised to reopen after the Senate voted late Sunday to advance a House-passed measure to fund the government, marking a notable breakthrough in the weeks-long stalemate. House members have been directed to return to Washington in anticipation of a vote this week on a final deal, signaling an end to the 40-day shutdown that has impacted federal employees and disrupted essential services.
Senate Breakthrough and Path Forward
The Senate’s 60-40 vote to move forward on the House bill represents a critical shift after 14 previous failed attempts. Eight Democrats joined with Republicans to overcome the procedural hurdle, paving the way for further negotiations and a potential end to the shutdown.
Amidst the progress in Congress, president Trump issued a strong statement regarding air traffic controllers, demanding their immediate return to work. Writing on Truth Social, the President stated, “All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!” He further indicated that controllers who continued to report during the shutdown could be eligible for a $10,000 bonus, while those who remained off the job would face consequences.
The President’s comments came as flight disruptions continued, with over 1,500 flights canceled and more than 1,400 delayed as of early Monday, according to FlightAware. He warned that controllers who did not return to work “will have a negative mark” on their record and suggested those considering leaving the service do so “with NO payment or severance of any kind!”
House Speaker Urges Return to Washington
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed the sentiment of urgency, calling on House members to return to Washington “right now.” Speaking at a news conference, Johnson stated, “You need to begin right now returning to the Hill.We need to do this as quickly as possible.” He expressed optimism that the government would reopen this week, allowing Congress to resume its regular legislative session.
“We look forward to the government reopening this week,” Johnson said.”Ther will be long days and long nights here in the foreseeable future to make up for all this lost time that was imposed upon us.”
Democrats Stand Firm, Cite Republican Obstruction
While welcoming the Senate’s action, some Democrats have been critical of the concessions made to reach a deal.Senator Jeanne shaheen of New Hampshire, a key negotiator in the talks, emphasized that the current situation stemmed from Republican resistance to funding healthcare affordability.”We stood up to President Trump for 40 days,” Shaheen told “CBS Mornings,” “and let’s remember why we’re in this position.”
Shaheen also highlighted the impact of the shutdown on federal employees and SNAP recipients, arguing that the agreement would force Speaker Johnson to bring the House back into session after a prolonged absence. She added that the agreement would compel the House to address the funding issue, as they had been out of session since September 19.
Eight Democrats Break Ranks to Advance Bill
The Senate vote to advance the funding bill was made possible by the support of eight Democrats: Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Dick Durbin of Illinois, john Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Angus King of Maine, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was the sole republican to vote against the measure.
“Long National Nightmare” May be Ending
Speaker Johnson expressed cautious optimism, declaring that “our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end.” He accused some Senate Democrats of needlessly prolonging the suffering of the American people for 40 days,but welcomed their eventual support for the funding measure. “At least some Democrats now finally appear ready to do what Republicans and President Trump and millions of hardworking American people have been asking them to do for weeks,” johnson stated.
The coming days will be crucial as the Senate and House work to finalize a funding agreement and bring an end to the government shutdown, offering relief to federal employees and restoring essential services across the nation.
- The Antideficiency Act, Explained: The Law Behind Every Shutdown (daybreakwire.com)
