The Longest Shutdown in U.S. History Officially Ends
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency and Al Jazeera, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the bill to end the historic federal government shutdown amid applause from Republican lawmakers gathered around him in the Oval Office.He stated, “Today we send a clear message that we will never yield to extortion.”
The federal government shutdown occurred while congress passed a bill that received narrow approval in the House of Representatives with 222 votes in favor and 219 against. The legislation is set to reopen federal agencies and offices.
The funding measure extends government financing through January 30, including resuming paused food aid programs, paying hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and restoring air traffic control systems.
As a result, approximately 670,000 furloughed federal employees will return to work. The same number who remained on duty without pay- including more than 60,000 air traffic controllers and airport security staff-will receive back pay.
Earlier, House Majority Leader Mike Johnson announced that voting on the funding package would take place later that evening local time. He urged members from both parties to carefully consider their decisions and ultimately do what was right.
Eight Democratic senators broke ranks with their party earlier this week to support passing this temporary funding package. This caused meaningful divisions among Democrats because many believed they should have insisted on extending federally funded healthcare benefits set to expire at year’s end.
House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party will introduce seperate legislation seeking a three-year extension for these benefits. He added that republicans and President Trump are ignoring the growing crisis around rising living costs nationwide.
