Government Shutdown Update
A legislative package to end the government shutdown appears on track after a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to break the impasse in what has become a deepening disruption of federal programs and services, the longest in history.
What’s in and out of the bipartisan deal drew sharp criticism and leaves few senators fully satisfied. The legislation provides funding to reopen the government, including for SNAP food aid and other programs, while also ensuring backpay for furloughed federal workers the Trump administration had left in doubt.
But notably lacking is any clear resolution to expiring health care subsidies that Democrats have been fighting for as millions of Americans stare down rising insurance premiums. That debate was pushed off for a vote next month, weeks before the subsidies are set to expire.
Understanding the Deal
Here’s a look at the deal as it’s moving through Congress:
The deal is a compromise between Senate Democrats and Republicans, aiming to end the government shutdown. It includes funding to keep the government running for the next couple of months and provides backpay for federal workers who were furloughed or working without pay during the shutdown.
Funding to Reopen the Government
Included is funding to keep much of the federal government running for the next couple of months, to Jan. 30, with a stopgap measure. It largely funds government operations at their current rates.
Yet in a breakthrough for what’s considered a more normal appropriations process, the package also includes several bills to fully fund other government operations including agricultural programs and military construction along with veterans’ affairs for the full fiscal year, through September 2026.
Additionally, the package ensures states would be reimbursed for money they spent to keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, and the Women, Infants and Children program, or WIC, running during the shutdown.
Health Care Funding Still Up for Debate
The Democrats failed to secure their main demand during the shutdown, which was an extension of the health care subsidies that many of the 24 million people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act rely on to help defray costs.
Instead, the package guarantees a vote on the issue in December — which was not enough for most of the Democrats, who rejected the deal and voted against it.
Federal Workers Get a Reprieve
The package seeks to roll back some of the Trump administration’s shutdown-related hits to the federal workforce. Employees have faced repeated threats of firings and mass layoffs this year.
The stopgap measure reinstates federal workers who had received reductions in force, or layoff, notices and protects against such future actions.
It also would provide back pay for federal workers who were furloughed or working without pay during the shutdown — something that’s traditionally provided but that the Trump administration had threatened was not guaranteed.
Getting the Bill to the President’s Desk
Political and procedural hurdles remain as Congress, which is controlled by Republicans, slogs through more voting and the shutdown entered its 41st day Monday.
Senators hope to skip past a series of steps that could drag voting out all week if the dissenters put up a prolonged fight.
One Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted against advancing the package Sunday, and he is said to have concerns over a hemp industry provision. And three ultra-conservative GOP senators held up voting for more than two hours as they demanded consideration of their ideas. It is unclear if any of them plans to stage further protests.
Democrats, who have fought for the past month in their hopes of preserving the health care subsidies, also could delay final passage, and their next steps are uncertain.
And the package faces fresh scrutiny once it goes to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana holds a slim GOP majority and would likely need almost all Republicans to support the bill in the face of objections from Democrats who are holding out for the health care funds.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said the party will fight the bill, forcing the Republicans in the House to pass it largely on their own.
“We will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits” Jeffries said. “Donald Trump and the Republican Party own the toxic mess they have created.”
Conclusion
The government shutdown has been a long and difficult process, with many Americans affected by the lack of funding for federal programs and services. The deal that has been reached is a compromise between Senate Democrats and Republicans, but it is not without its criticisms. The package provides funding to reopen the government, but it does not address the issue of expiring health care subsidies, which will be voted on in December.
The package also provides backpay for federal workers who were furloughed or working without pay during the shutdown, and it reinstates federal workers who had received layoff notices. However, the deal is not without its challenges, and it faces fresh scrutiny in the House, where Democrats are holding out for health care funds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current status of the government shutdown?
A: The government shutdown has entered its 41st day, and a deal has been reached to provide funding to reopen the government for the next couple of months.
Q: What is included in the deal?
A: The deal includes funding to keep the government running for the next couple of months, backpay for federal workers who were furloughed or working without pay, and reinstatement of federal workers who had received layoff notices.
Q: What is not included in the deal?
A: The deal does not address the issue of expiring health care subsidies, which will be voted on in December.
Q: What are the next steps for the deal?
A: The deal will go to the House, where it faces fresh scrutiny and potential delays. Democrats are holding out for health care funds, and it is unclear if the deal will pass.
