A vote on a possible end to the government’s partial shutdown of business – the shutdown – is expected to take place in the US Parliament. The vote in the House of Representatives in Washington is expected to take place from 11 p.m. (CET/afternoon local time). It’s unclear how long the process in that room will take.
If the House of Representatives approves it, a signature from US President Donald Trump will be needed for the interim budget, which will be in effect until the end of January, to take effect. Then the government shutdown will end for a while. The closure occurred because the Republican Party and… Democrat can’t agree on a budget. They blamed each other for it.
The White House expressed confidence that the government shutdown would end soon. Government spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the president could sign it as early as tonight (local time).
Closing notes
The shutdown is the longest in American history: as of October 1, government employees are no longer being paid, thousands of flights are being canceled due to staff shortages and many Americans are no longer receiving food aid because there is no money flowing in without an approved budget.
In the DPR, they have republic slim majority – they have 219 representatives, Democrats 213; 3 seats are currently empty. The law passed with a simple majority.
Breakthrough in the Senate
At the weekend there was a breakthrough in the showdown between Democrats and Republicans in the other chamber of the US Parliament – the Senate. Several Democrats voted in favor of Republicans, paving the way for a temporary budget vote in a further step. The Senate passed the interim budget on Monday.
Shutdown could happen again
If the shutdown must end, this is a temporary solution. The interim budget will be in effect until the end of January. Theoretically, there is a possibility that government business will come to a halt again if there is no agreement on a long-term budget.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251112-930-280624/2
