US Government Shutdown to End Soon: Senate Passes Bill to Reopen Government
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A potential end to the record 41-day US government shutdown is on the horizon after the Senate approved a crucial funding bill on Monday. The legislation, which passed with a 60-40 vote, has drawn criticism from within the Democratic party, as several senators defected to support the deal. Over a million federal employees have gone unpaid since the shutdown began on October 1, and the crisis has started to affect air travel, with more than 1,000 flight cancellations reported daily. The deal reached by Democratic senators drops the party's push to extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, a move that has left some party members feeling betrayed. The bill, which now heads to the House of Representatives for a vote, would reopen the government and provide protection for federal workers from further job cuts until January. It also guarantees that employees will receive their pay once the shutdown ends. Key Democrats who supported the deal include Virginia senator Tim Kaine, Illinois senator Dick Durbin, and Nevada senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. The remaining Democrats, including Senate leader Chuck Schumer, opposed the proposal. If the Republican-led House approves the spending package, it would fund most government agencies until January 30 and extend funding for certain agencies until September 30. The bill would then head to President Donald Trump for approval, potentially ending the record-breaking shutdown by Wednesday.
