Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement this Sunday in the Senate to end the government shutdown in the United States.
It was the stroke of 7pm, 39 days and 20 hours after the Administration shutdown began. The Republicans of the upper house, led by their leader John Thune, had presented a new proposal to reopen it after fifteen failed votes a few hours earlier, on the fortieth day of the longest government shutdown in the history of the United States. The process started with that pact should have resulted in an exceptional vote on Sunday, the day normally held in the Capitol.
The agreement between the two parties guarantees the financing of the federal administration until January 30, the date on which, if no substantial agreements are reached, a new closure could occur. The budget proposal includes a one-item provision that Democrats have called for: reinstating federal employees laid off during the shutdown and ensuring there will be no more mass layoffs until the end of January. It also banishes Donald Trump’s threat that officials would not receive back pay for wages lost during the shutdown.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer took the floor on Friday at the same venue to present his Republican rivals with a proposal to reopen the tap on public spending. They asked as a condition the postponement for one year of the health subsidy program provided for by the law known as Obamacare, and from there to negotiate with the other party the open administration, as requested by the majority leader, John Thune.
“Republicans just have to say yes,” Schumer said, after 14 unsuccessful votes to reach a deal. And the Republicans immediately said no.
The United States Air Authority’s (FAA) decision Friday morning to order the cancellation of hundreds of flights at 40 major U.S. airports to address air saturation due to the resignation or resignation of controllers, federal employees affected by the government shutdown. More than 1,600 flights were canceled Sunday and delays continued to mount on the third day of the Trump administration’s enforcement of an unprecedented measure.
The administrative block means that dozens of federal agencies are closed or with little activity due to lack of funds. The almost 13 thousand air traffic controllers and thousands of airport security workers have not received their salaries since October 1st. Many have decided to take sick leave to look for another source of income with which to pay the mortgage, the car loan, the children’s school or simply fill the pantry.
There are 750,000 officials suspended from employment and salaries.
(Breaking news. There will be an update soon.)
