PredictFolio Team
After 40 days of a historic government shutdown that paralyzed federal operations, U.S. senators from both parties announced on Sunday, November 9, that they had reached a preliminary deal to restore government funding.
The bipartisan compromise, which still requires several procedural steps before taking effect, would reopen agencies and provide short-term funding until January, according to reports from major U.S. outlets such as CNN and Fox News. Lawmakers had spent weeks debating issues like health insurance subsidies, food assistance programs, and President Donald Trump’s controversial dismissal of federal employees.
As word of the agreement circulated, Trump told reporters upon returning to the White House from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.”
Senate Advances the Bill
The Republican-controlled Senate quickly scheduled a procedural vote on Sunday evening to move the measure forward. Early counts indicated the bill had enough bipartisan support to clear this first hurdle. If it passes the Senate, it must then be approved by the House of Representatives, also under Republican leadership, before reaching the president’s desk for final approval — a process expected to take several days.
Travel Chaos Deepens
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned earlier Sunday that the travel chaos caused by the shutdown was worsening rapidly. As thousands of air traffic controllers and safety staff continued to work unpaid, airlines were forced to cut back operations.
By Sunday night, FlightAware data showed more than 2,700 flight cancellations and nearly 10,000 delays across domestic and international routes involving the U.S. Major airports including New York’s LaGuardia and Newark, Chicago O’Hare, and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson faced some of the heaviest disruptions, with over half of all LaGuardia departures delayed.
Duffy cautioned that unless funding was restored soon, flight availability around the November 27 Thanksgiving holiday could plummet: “Many Americans simply won’t be able to get on a plane if this doesn’t reopen.” Even once the shutdown ends, he added, it could take several days before flight schedules return to normal.
What the Deal Includes
The proposed legislation — a continuing resolution (CR) — would temporarily fund the government at pre-shutdown levels while guaranteeing back pay for federal employees who have worked without compensation. It also reinstates thousands of government workers who were dismissed during the shutdown and restores funding for the SNAP food assistance program, which supports more than 42 million Americans.
In addition, the measure ensures that Congress will hold a vote on extending health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, a key point of contention during the negotiations.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine praised the agreement for safeguarding federal employees and protecting low-income families. “This bill ensures back pay for public servants and restores vital food benefits,” Kaine said in a statement.
However, not all Democrats are satisfied. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the bill for merely promising a vote on health care rather than extending the subsidies outright. “I cannot in good conscience support a resolution that leaves this crisis unresolved,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “This fight will continue.”
