Washington is once again at a standstill. A partial government shutdown that kicked off on Saturday has left thousands of federal employees in limbo, and the clock is ticking for Congress to find a way out.
While the halls of the Capitol are usually quiet over the weekend, the mood this time is anything but calm as lawmakers scramble to pass a funding deal before the work week spirals into a long-term crisis.
The House is expected to take up a series of critical votes on Tuesday that could get the lights back on for most of the government. The proposed plan isn’t a permanent fix for everyone, though.
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While most departments would be funded through September, the Department of Homeland Security is only looking at a tiny two-week lifeline. This “band-aid” approach comes as both sides continue to butt heads over how to handle immigration enforcement and border reforms.
Even though this shutdown has only been active for a few days, the “help wanted” signs are already coming down in key sectors. The FAA is feeling the heat immediately, with more than 10,000 employees sent home on furlough.
Meanwhile, the air traffic controllers—the people responsible for keeping the skies safe—are still at their posts, but they’re doing the job without seeing a dime in their paychecks.
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For travelers and federal staff alike, the big question is whether Tuesday’s vote will actually hold. If the House can’t get on the same page, what started as a weekend lapse could quickly turn into a much larger headache for the entire country.
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