On Monday, President Donald Trump signed a big spending bill with enormous implications for public transportation. This move opened the government and concluded the longest civil servant-induced shutdown in United States history at 43 days. Following drawn-out negotiations and extreme pressure from federal workers and the general public, President Biden signed on. Starting last October, nearly 1.4 million federal employees either went without pay or were forced to work without pay.
The newly signed spending bill extends funding for federal operations only until January 30, a temporary solution that aims to stabilize government functions while leaving several contentious issues unresolved. Since the shutdown started, a great deal of federal government services have been put on hold. This especially hammers home the unacceptable disruption of services, including public safety and transportation.
There’s a lot to like about the spending package, but most important is one commitment. In December, Congress will take a critical vote on extending healthcare subsidies for working and low-income Americans. Throughout the negotiations, this requirement turned into a key point of debate. The Democrats held the line, threatening to vote against the bill until the Republicans capitulated and agreed to extend these subsidies. A band of eight Senate Democrats joined the Republicans in outright going against their own party. Their activism was instrumental to getting the spending package over the finish line.
The bill provides for full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture. It provides funding for military construction and for the legislative branch. This smart legislation will soon help put state, local, and federal government services back online. Federal employees and the public will soon see this much-needed relief in action.
Travel disruptions to air travel should largely return to normal before Thanksgiving. This will be an immense relief to all the travelers impacted by the shutdown. How we resolve this crisis will be an important test case for the future of American governance. This requires the administration to adroitly balance domestic and international pressures while meeting public demands.
Most recently, in a Midnight tweet, President Trump blamed the shutdown on the Democratic Party. “They did it purely for political reasons,” he remarked during a press conference following the bill’s signing. He warned, “When we come up to midterms and other things, don’t forget what they’ve done to our country,” indicating that he views this issue as pivotal for upcoming elections.
The new spending bill provides only temporary relief. It doesn’t do anything to address the real controversies that have stoked the partisan fire in Congress. Lawmakers need to address these budgetary issues in the next sessions. Some are advocating for more systemic reforms to our healthcare system.
The petition to protect Jeffrey Epstein’s files requires a stronger legislative response. It has to sit for at least seven legislative days before being taken up by lawmakers on the floor, allowing for the public’s first look. House leadership will have to bring the bill up for a vote within two legislative days after this two day waiting period.