US Senators Move Closer To Ending Record Government Shutdown

US Senators Move Closer To Ending Record Government Shutdown

After 40 tense days that left millions of Americans affected and the federal government at a standstill, the US Senate has finally taken a major step toward ending the longest shutdown in American history.

On Sunday, senators voted 60 to 40 to advance debate on a motion that would restore funding to key federal agencies and put an end to weeks of economic and logistical chaos across the country. The vote effectively limits debate time to 30 more hours before the Senate can move to a final decisionone that would only require 50 votes to pass.

If approved, the measure will still need to make its way through the Republican-controlled House of Representatives before reaching President Donald Trump’s desk, a process that could take several days.

A Breakthrough After Weeks Of Stalemate

The procedural vote marks the most significant progress yet after weeks of bitter political wrangling between Republicans and Democrats. The temporary deal aims to fund the government through January, offering relief to agencies crippled by frozen budgets and to workers left without pay.

Speaking from the White House after returning from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump appeared optimistic. “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending,” he told reporters.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, one of eight Democrats who supported the measure, said the vote was about “ending the punishing of the federal workforce.” With around 300,000 federal workers in Virginia, Kaine stressed that the bill would reinstate furloughed employees and ensure they receive back pay.

“This will protect workers from baseless firings and restore those wrongfully terminated during the shutdown,” he said.

But not all Democrats were convinced. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted against the proposal, accusing Republicans of “dismantling the healthcare system and making every day harder for American families.”

Air Travel And Public Services Hit Hard

The shutdown’s ripple effects have been felt nationwide, with everything from airport operations to food assistance programs stretched to breaking point.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the aviation sector was on the brink of crisis, with over 3,000 flights canceled and 10,000 delayed by Sunday evening. “Air travel could slow to a trickle if this thing doesn’t open back up,” he cautioned, noting the strain on air traffic controllers and TSA staff.

As the Thanksgiving travel rush looms, Duffy said many Americans might not be able to get on planes if the shutdown continues. Even after a deal is reached, he warned it could take days for flight schedules to normalize.

Strain On American Families

Beyond travel disruptions, millions of low-income families have been directly affected. The proposed funding bill would restore the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to more than 42 million Americans, and ensure a vote on extending key healthcare subsidies set to expire at year’s end.

However, not everyone sees the stopgap agreement as a win. Progressive voices like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the deal as insufficient.

“People want us to hold the line for a reason,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “This isn’t about political games. It’s about people’s lives.”

A Nation Waiting For Normalcy

Republican Senator John Thune called the Senate’s progress “a much-needed breakthrough” that would bring relief to Americans facing financial strain. “After 40 days of uncertainty, nutrition programs, veterans, and other critical priorities will have their full-year funding,” he said.

As lawmakers prepare for a final vote, the American publicfederal workers, travelers, and families alikeremain hopeful that the political deadlock will soon end and that the gears of government will start turning again.

For now, all eyes are on Capitol Hill, where the final decision could determine whether the United States finally wakes up from its longest government shutdown in history.

{Source:EWN}

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