Up next
Author
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
The longest US government shutdown in history appears poised to be over, ending the 43-day standoff that paralysed Washington and left hundreds of thousands of workers unpaid.
The country’s House of Representatives convened for a session on Thursday (AEDT) for the first time since 19 September, to decide on a deal that can put an end to what its speaker Mike Johnson has described as “the long national nightmare”.
“My urgent plea of all my colleagues in the House, that means every Democrat in the House, is to think carefully, pray and finally do the right thing,” the Republican said.
The shutdown started on 1 October, after Republican and Democratic proposals to fund the government failed in the Senate.

The Democratic initiative includes provisions to extend healthcare subsidies, while the Republican proposal seeks to keep government financing steady until November 1.

On Monday, eight Democrats defied their party leadership to pass legislation that extends funding for most agencies until 30 January, sparking speculation of a deal between the parties on the government’s funding package.

With a slim margin, losing just two votes could result in a setback for the Republicans on this bill. However, anticipated support from former President Trump is expected to unify his party in favor of the proposal.

The package doesn’t include any updates on the healthcare subsidies, which were one of the primary demands by the Democrats.
But on the other hand, it will prevent President Donald Trump from mass-firing federal workers until 30 January, while also allowing for temporary governmental funding.
Nearly 300,000 of the 2.2 million federal government workers have been laid off or pressured to leave their jobs this year, as part of Trump’s campaign to downsize the US government.

The vote to conclude the shutdown is scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday.
It does not explicitly address other federal workers, who are guaranteed back pay when the government reopens under a 2019 law.
The package provides funding for military construction, veterans’ affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and Congress until next year, with the remainder of the government funded through the end of January.
The bill ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food aid program, which helps 40 million Americans purchase groceries, will continue uninterrupted even if Congress shuts down the government again before September 2026.

The current shutdown has caused significant disruption to SNAP payments, leaving them uncertain and unresolved.

What still needs to happen?

The bill, which has been passed in the Senate, now has to be approved in the House of Representatives — where Republicans hold a narrow 219-213 majority.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said his “strong expectation is that Democrats will strongly oppose” the bill.

That means losing only two votes might result in a loss for the Republicans on the bill. However, Trump’s support for the bill is expected to keep his party together to vote for the bill.
During a Veterans Day speech, Trump said: “We’re opening up our country. It should have never been closed.”

Voting on the bill to end the shutdown is expected at around 7 pm local time on Wednesday.

What will happen after the bill passes?

If the House approves, the bill will go to Trump’s desk to be signed into law, and then the US government can reopen.
Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president hoped to sign the bill ending the shutdown. Also on Monday, when asked if he would personally approve the deal, Trump told CNN, “I would say so.”
If the bill is signed by Trump, around 670,000 furloughed civil servants will return to work, and a similar number who were retained at their posts without compensation, including more than 60,000 air traffic controllers and airport security staff, will receive back pay.
Additional reporting by Reuters news agency and Agence France-Presse.
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
You May Also Like

Countdown to Standard Time: How Daylight Saving’s End Will Impact Your Time Zone

As the calendar inches toward the first Sunday in April, residents of…

Revealed: The True Mission Behind the Moon-Bound Astronauts’ Journey

Key Points Astronauts aboard the Artemis II are officially out of the…
Tom Forrest lives in the small town of Wyndham in Western Australia's Kimberly region.

Local Man Buys Plane for Grocery Runs: Revolutionizing Convenience with Aerial Shopping Trips

Tom Forrest lives in the very small town of Wyndham in Western…

Stunning First Images from Artemis II Reveal Earth’s Breathtaking Beauty

In brief NASA has released images taken from inside the Orion spacecraft,…
Trump asks for immense increase in defence spending

Trump Proposes Significant Boost in Defense Budget

In a bold move, President Donald Trump has unveiled a 2027 budget…

Australia’s Path to Energy Independence: Top Strategies to Cut Oil Dependence

IN BRIEF Fuel prices in Australia have surged amid Iran’s effective blockade…
This image provided by NASA shows a view of Earth taken by NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman from of the Orion spacecraft's window after completing the translunar injection burn on April 2, 2026.

Artemis II Astronauts Share Stunning Images of Earth’s Vivid Blue from Lunar Mission

The astronauts aboard Artemis II have provided breathtaking images of Earth as…
Petrol around Australia graphic

Fuel Supplies Replenished, Yet Farmers Struggle with Exhaustion, Warns Leadership

Shifting consumer behaviors are impacting demand, prompting Australia to look towards nearby…
Nine men have been charged for their alleged links to a syndicate behind a large-scale conspiracy to import tonnes of illicit drugs into Victoria and traffic drugs around the country.

Several Men Arrested in Connection with Major Drug Importation Scheme in Victoria

Nine men have been charged in a multi-agency operation investigating an alleged…
It's the organisation that Aussie A-lister Hugh Jackman considers his 'church'. But for critics of The School of Practical Philosophy, it is a quasi-religious 'sect' that has been described by some as cult-like (Pictured: Hugh Jackman)

Unveiling the Controversy: Hugh Jackman’s Church Under Fire as Emily Watson Labels It ‘Unpleasant’ and ‘Cruel

For Australian superstar Hugh Jackman, The School of Practical Philosophy holds a…
Fuel crisis

European Ministers Advocate for Energy Profit Caps to Curb Rising Costs

The finance ministers of Spain and four other European countries are urging…
It's going to be hot and wet in Darwin this Easter

Easter Forecast: A Varied Mix of Thunderstorms, Showers, and Sunshine

With the Easter long weekend upon us, many regions across the country…