United States President Donald Trump has signed a federal government spending bill less than two hours after the House of Representatives passed it, bringing an end to the longest government shutdown in US history, which hit workers and families in need and heavily affected air travel.
“With my signature, the federal government will now resume normal operations,” Trump said late on Wednesday, pledging to work to lower the cost of living.
The new spending bill, which extends federal funding until January 30, was backed by a margin of 222 to 209 in the Republican-majority House. It was approved by the Senate earlier this week, after seven Democrats and one independent agreed to support it.
Trump’s signature brings to an end a 43-day shutdown that began on October 1, during which all but essential government services had ground to a halt.
Federal workers will now return to their jobs as early as Thursday, but it is unclear how quickly full government services and operations will resume.
About 670,000 civil servants were furloughed during the closure, while a similar number worked without compensation, but will now receive back pay.
The shutdown’s end offers hope that services crucial to the country’s beleaguered air travel industry, in particular, will have time to recover before the Thanksgiving holiday travel wave, which is just two weeks away.
Restoration of food aid to millions of American families before Christmas may also make room in household budgets for increased spending during the festive season.
A vote on healthcare subsidies is due to take place in the Senate by December.
Credit: aljazeera.com
