The U.S. Senate began voting Sunday night (September 11) to bring forward budget approval and end the government shutdown that has affected federal programs and agencies for 40 days.
Democratic senators said they had secured the votes needed to reach a deal and fund U.S. federal equipment by January 30, 2026, according to the New York Times.
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The US government shutdown is the longest in the country’s history. The impasse between President Donald Trump and Congress is impacting millions of Americans, paralyzing federal programs and threatening the pace of the nation’s economy.
Contract details
The agreement between senators provides for the reinstatement of federal employees fired by President Donald Trump and establishes a mechanism to prevent new similar firings in the future. The agreement also calls for funding for food assistance programs through fiscal year 2026.
Democrats also want all public employees to receive pay for the time they were furloughed.
The bill must be debated and approved by the Senate and then approved by the House of Representatives. Republican leaders in both the House and Senate are expected to begin negotiations with Democrats on the proposal in the coming weeks after the government reopens.
longest strike in history
This Sunday, the US shutdown entered its 40th consecutive day. The government shutdown began on October 1 after Congress failed to approve a federal budget. The next day, the White House began cutting staff across multiple government agencies.
On October 10, President Trump announced his intention to fire “many” employees who are said to be sympathetic to the Democratic Party.
After a court ruling blocked further job cuts, the government maintained its layoff plan, suggesting that the cuts could reach 10,000 if the impasse continues.
The strike has left more than 1 million federal workers without pay. Some have been forced to report to work, while others have been placed on unpaid leave with no prospect of returning.
Flight suspension
As a result of the strike, 1,500 flights were canceled in the country by the end of this Saturday (8/11). The drop in air traffic, causing flight cancellations and delays, began as the government shutdown entered its 39th day.
Air traffic teams have been cut and are inconvenienced as they continue to work but are not paid. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a 4% suspension of airport operations.
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