JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
In what is now the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, Congress has passed a bill to have the entire federal government reopen, after being closed off for 43 days.
The official legislation was signed by President Donald Trump following the House of Representatives voting 222 to 209 to approve the Senate’s proposed bill of reopening the federal government. The House’s vote passed on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Eight Democratic Party members voted in support of the bill alongside members of the Republican Party in order to ensure prevention of a filibuster regarding the bill. A filibuster is a governmental action the Senate utilizes to block or delay the passage of a specific vote.
Several government agencies since have sent notifications to government-based employees, informing them of their return to work and pay. Several federally owned recreational sites and national parks have since reopened and are receiving federally supported services. However, recent estimates showcase that the shutdown will cause the National Park Service millions in lost funds.
The bill also includes the rehiring of previously fired government workers since the shutdown began, as well as to resume funding of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Funding will continue without any interference or interruption, meaning support towards food programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) will now resume throughout the federal fiscal year.
Despite the government reopening, new challenges persist as agencies and communities most affected by the shutdown are in the works of recovering from the long and lingering effects it has caused across October and into November.