The US Senate approved a compromise yesterday that will end the longest government shutdown in US history, resolving a weeks-long deadlock that disrupted food benefits for millions, left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid, and caused widespread travel delays.
The vote passed 60-40, with nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats supporting the deal. The eight Democrats had sought to tie government funding to health subsidies set to expire at the end of the year. While the agreement schedules a December vote on those subsidies—which benefit 24 million Americans—it does not guarantee their continuation.
The legislation restores funding for federal agencies whose budgets expired on October 1 and temporarily halts President Donald Trump’s campaign to reduce the federal workforce, preventing layoffs until January 30.
Next, the deal moves to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson aims to pass it as soon as Wednesday before sending it to Trump for his signature. Trump called the agreement “very good.”
The measure extends federal funding through January 30, keeping the government on a path of roughly US$1.8 trillion in annual spending, adding to the nation’s US$38 trillion debt.
The deal has drawn criticism from Democrats, especially in the wake of recent victories in New Jersey and Virginia, and the election of a democratic socialist mayor in New York City. Many Democrats argued that the shutdown could have been leveraged to push for better policy but expressed frustration that the opportunity was missed.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois said, “We wish we could do more. The government shutting down seemed to be an opportunity to lead us to better policy. It didn’t work.”
A late October Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that 50 percent of Americans blamed Republicans for the shutdown, while 43 percent blamed Democrats.
US stocks rose following the news of the deal, which also includes funding for the SNAP food-subsidy program through September 30 of next year, preventing potential interruptions should Congress face another shutdown.
The agreement does not include measures to prevent future unilateral spending cuts by Trump, who has previously trimmed federal payrolls and canceled billions in spending, raising questions about Congress’s authority over fiscal matters.
— Reuters
