Senate Plans Series of Votes to End Record Shutdown
WASHINGTON – The Senate is preparing a series of votes to end the historic 35-day partial government shutdown, with a potential deal gaining momentum despite lingering opposition from both parties. senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced plans for votes this week, promising at least 24-hour notice before any action, though a specific timeline remains unclear.
The shutdown, triggered by a dispute over funding for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed or working without pay and disrupted government services nationwide. Any agreement reached in both chambers would require President Donald Trump‘s signature to become law, and Trump indicated he is inclined to support a deal, stating, “If it’s the deal I heard about… I would say so.” He added, “I think, based on everything I’m hearing, they haven’t changed anything, and we have support from enough Democrats, and we’re going to be opening up our country.”
The potential agreement reportedly includes a reversal of layoffs of federal workers initiated by the Trump management during the shutdown. However, House Democrats, led by Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, remain opposed to the spending bill passed by the Senate, arguing it would “gut the health care of the American people” and fail to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits.
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson intends to swear in Adelita Grijalva of Arizona upon the chamber’s return. Johnson had previously refused to swear her in until Senate Democrats agreed to reopen the government. Once sworn in,Grijalva’s vote would provide the 218th signature needed to force a vote on compelling the release of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex-abuse case.
