US Senate Passes Bill to End Government Shutdown: A Compromise Reached
The US Senate has reached a compromise to end the longest government shutdown in American history, a weeks-long stalemate that has disrupted food benefits for millions and left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid. The bill, passed with 60-40 support, includes a December vote on health subsidies that benefit 24 million Americans, though their continuation is not guaranteed.
The deal restores funding for federal agencies, halts President Trump's federal workforce reduction plans until January 30th, and heads to the House of Representatives for a potential swift passage. Speaker Mike Johnson aims to send the bill to President Trump for his signature as soon as the next day.
President Trump has praised the deal, but it has sparked anger among some Democrats, who note the lack of guarantees regarding health insurance subsidies. Senator Dick Durbin expressed disappointment, stating that the shutdown should have led to better policy.
A recent poll revealed that 50% of Americans blame Republicans for the shutdown, while 43% blame Democrats. The deal's passage has also led to a rise in US stocks, indicating market relief.
President Trump's actions, including unilateral spending cuts and federal payroll reductions, have been criticized for intruding on Congress's constitutional authority. Some Democrats question their support for future spending deals.
The agreement includes funding for the SNAP food-subsidy program until September 30th, 2024, preventing potential disruptions if another shutdown occurs during that period. However, the deal lacks specific measures to prevent further spending cuts by President Trump.
Amid the shutdown, President Trump demanded air traffic controllers return to work, threatening to dock their pay. This came as the aviation system faced severe disruptions due to controller absences, with some working without pay and others due to second jobs or childcare issues. The FAA imposed ground delays at nine airports, affecting 1.2 million customers.
The White House's threat to deny pay and offer bonuses to controllers has raised questions about the feasibility of such actions under the controllers' union contract. President Trump's response, 'I'll get it from some place,' has added to the controversy.
