The United States’ prolonged government shutdown, now stretching beyond 40 days, appears to be drawing to a close. President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted that an agreement may soon end the impasse.
“It
looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending. You’ll know very soon,” he told reporters, signalling optimism after weeks of political stalemate.
According to CNN reports, Senate leaders have reached a deal to fund the federal government through to 30 January. The chamber is expected to hold a vote between 8:30 and 9 p.m. ET, with at least eight Senate Democrats agreeing to support the temporary funding measure.
The breakthrough follows mounting public pressure amid growing economic disruptions and administrative paralysis across several sectors.
US shutdown
While Congress works to finalise the deal, the consequences of the shutdown continue to ripple across the country. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Sunday that air travel could soon be “reduced to a trickle” ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, citing ongoing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions. Airlines have been forced to cut schedules and cancel flights as staffing shortages and regulatory backlogs worsen.
The Department of Agriculture has also taken drastic steps to preserve limited funds. It has ordered state agencies to halt full food stamp distributions and “immediately undo” measures that sought to ensure assistance for November. The directive sparked outrage among advocacy groups, who accused the federal government of jeopardising food security for millions of Americans.
The shutdown, the longest in recent US history, has cost the economy billions and placed hundreds of thousands of federal workers on unpaid leave.
If approved, the Senate deal would provide short-term relief, reopening government departments and restoring essential services, though contentious budget negotiations are expected to resume early next year.
