This is huge and it’s been a long time coming – thank you U.S. House of Representatives! In doing so, they averted the longest government shutdown in history, narrowly passed a stopgap spending bill. The 328-page bill passed with little room to spare, passing by a vote of 222-209. Most federal agencies will get short-term appropriations through Jan. 30, 2024. President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign the legislation. This step will bring federal workers back to work and mitigate the pain and suffering inflicted by October 1’s government shutdown.
The bill that just passed guarantees the back pay of all federal employees, even those affected by the shutdown. This move makes things easier for the hundreds of thousands of workers who have not been paid since the government ceased functioning. In addition, it replaces the layoffs of thousands of federal workers, getting that workforce back to work as soon as possible.
Speaker Mike Johnson, speaking to the House immediately following the vote, projected a sense of relief as well as urgency about getting the bill passed. He stated, “On the Republican side we operated in good faith,” emphasizing bipartisan efforts to resolve the situation. Johnson stressed the importance of reopening the government quickly, saying, “We need to get this government open as soon as possible.”
The bill delivers much-needed resources to federal agencies, programs, and departments. It ensures the speedy restoration of essential services. For example, Head Start, an early childhood education program, may take several weeks to fully resume operations following the shutdown. Agricultural and food assistance programs, including expanded SNAP benefits, are scheduled to return right away. This decision will deliver much-needed support to the approximately 42 million Americans.
As federal employees prepare to return to work, U.S. airports are set to return to business as usual. Officials warn that it may be some time before the system is completely back up and running. Still, the bill’s passage delivers immediate relief. It responds to worries over the shutdown’s damage to popular priorities such as transportation and education.
President Trump affirmed his support for the bill during a recent statement, declaring, “The country has never been in better shape.” As he stated, “We’re reopening our nation,” it is hard to overstate the importance of bringing an end to this shutdown.
Johnson further criticized the consequences of the shutdown, pointing out that “shutdowns never yield any positive results.” He lamented, “Millions of families went without food on their table,” indicating the real-life repercussions of the stalled government operations.
The agreement is now on Trump’s desk for final approval. This last action is perhaps the biggest step yet by the House to find some level of normalcy and stability in governance. The next few weeks will be decisive. Finally, agencies will begin to implement the many provisions written into the legislation and address a host of backlogged duties.