Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The longest US Government shutdown has ended with President Donald Trump signing the legislation passed by Congress to temporarily fund federal operations. The standoff between the Republicans and the Democrats that paralysed the Government for 42 days broke on November 12 when the House of Representatives voted to approve the legislation passed by the Senate to end the stalemate. It was a setback for the Democrats whose demands about extending subsidies for the health insurance programme passed during former President Barack Obama’s tenure and is popularly known as Obamacare was not at accepted.
“It’s a great day”, Trump said after signing the bill, which the Republicans consider a triumph as they got it through Congress without giving in to the Democrats’ demands. The legislation for temporary funding till a budget is passed was stuck in the Senate because the majority Republican Party lacked the 60 votes required to move it for a vote under procedural rules. The range of federal operations, from air travel to programmes for subsidised or free food for the needy, can now resume, although it may take some time for all of them to be fully functional.
All federal employees will get their back pay, including those who could not work during the shutdown. Some, like the air traffic controllers, airport security staff and certain categories of essential workers, worked without pay during the shutdown. Referring to next year’s Congressional elections and the problems caused by the shutdown, Trump said at the signing, “I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this when we come up to the midterms”.
