YAY! US Officials Have Reached A Deal To Reopen The Government For Three Weeks!
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The longest federal shutdown in US history has finally ended! At around midday on January 25, 2019, President Donald Trump and US Congressional leaders agreed to reopen the government, which has been partially shut since December 21, 2018, for three weeks until February 15, 2019. Lawmakers from both parties believe this will give them enough time to reach a compromise on President Trump’s $5.7 billion request to build a US – Mexico border wall, which has caused the lengthy shutdown.
The agreement came as the impasse stretched into its 35th day, two weeks longer than the previous federal government closure record of 21 days. The impetus for US lawmakers to get a short-term funding bill approved came after effects of the prolonged shutdown started to become increasingly apparent.
The most visible impact were the significant flight delays due to the increase in the unpaid air traffic controllers calling in sick. Their absence forced federal officials to restrict the number of flights in and out of busy airports such as New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Washington DC., grounding thousands of travelers for hours. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said on Friday that the airport delays in particular "ratchets up pressure tremendously" to reopen the government, adding that the being forced to continue to ground flights could prove "very damaging to the American economy."
Also affected is the Internal Revenue Service. The agency reported that 14,000 unpaid employees in its tax processing and call centers did not show up for work this week, further straining the already stretched resources.
Whether the temporary funding measure takes into account the two paychecks the 800,000 government employees have missed due to the shutdown is unclear. But they will at least not have to worry about how to feed their families for three weeks, or, hopefully, ever again, if US lawmakers can agree on a long-term funding bill by February 15, 2019.
Resources: CNN.com, QZ.com, adn.com
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331 Comments
- Hanselalmost 6 yearsI think they shouldn't put a borader in the U.S and Mexico because we are one contenet. It is like the Civil War wer the south wanted to break free in its own contry and be separated. That is happing to North America it was never Canada and the United States or it has never been Canada and Mexico. It has always been Canada, United States, and Mexico. i think they should not put a borader.
- keribearalmost 6 yearsSorry but,the whole point of the wall is to keep us safe .To keep you safe.President Trump decided to put a wall because we have to many people coming into our country who have not registered and that is not right!!#OUTLAWS
- thenewsguyalmost 6 yearsBut There are other ways there those people can get through.
- Hanselalmost 6 yearsI didn't know the goverment shud down for 3 weeks. So glad it's back open because people were working in airlines but not getting paid and also peoples flights were delayed cause of this action.
- mia khalifaalmost 6 yearswow 35 my dad listens to the news every day so i know
- bakeduapiealmost 6 yearslike this if its 6:50 and ur trying to finish a school report cuz its due tomorrow and u dint even start
- smartgirl326almost 6 yearsYAY!😁The Government is finally back! 😃Soooooo glad this is finally over.👍👍👍
- keanaalmost 6 yearsThis just save everyone life who works for the government and the children who are at private schools that is under the government. And without this I'll be punished at school but this article save my life
- awsomesauce!!!!almost 6 yearswe should not have a wall between the us and mexico it is mean.
- takitechedwardalmost 6 yearsThe wall is used to protect us From Terrorists from Mexico
- keribearalmost 6 yearsThat's so right dude!!
- natehegreat778almost 6 yearsThank god I am happy.Especially my mom because she works for the government.
- ozunaalmost 6 yearsi think this is ridiculous
- wowalmost 6 yearsyay and wow