- The Senate advanced a key federal funding measure last night with bipartisan support to move toward ending the government shutdown.
- The deal included a White House endorsement in exchange for a future vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies.
- The air travel system experienced its worst weekend for air traffic control staffing since the shutdown began, causing ongoing disruptions.
- An appeals court rejected the administration’s effort to block the full payment of food stamp (SNAP) benefits in November, though recipients face continued uncertainty.
The Senate has taken a critical step toward potentially ending the ongoing government shutdown, which has persisted as the longest in U.S. history. Republican leaders are now attempting to swiftly push a federal funding bill after the Senate advanced the measure late last night. This progress was secured when eight Democrats joined Republicans to support the funding bill, which received an endorsement from the White House. The agreement included a commitment for a future vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.
The timeline for reopening the government now hinges on a successful vote in the Senate, which requires senators to agree on a debate duration for the final bill. Once passed by the Senate, the funding measure must be adopted by the House of Representatives before it can be sent to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
Despite the legislative movement, the negative impacts of the shutdown continue across the country. The air travel system faced its worst weekend for air traffic control staffing since the crisis began, leading to ongoing operational challenges at airports. Concurrently, an appeals court rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to halt the full payment of food stamp (SNAP) benefits in November. However, many recipients of these benefits still remain in limbo due to the political instability surrounding the program’s funding.
