The longest-ever US government shutdown moved forward Monday toward an eventual resolution, after several Democratic senators broke ranks to join Republicans in a 60-40 vote passing a compromise deal — sparking intra-party backlash.Since October 1, the first day of the shutdown, more than a million federal workers have been unpaid, while government benefits and services have been increasingly disrupted.Severe impacts on air traffic have begun to mount in recent days, with more than 1,000 flights canceled daily, raising the political pressure to end the stalemate.”We’ll be opening up our country very quickly,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding: “the deal is very good.”After the vote, Senate Republican Leader John Thune wrote on X that he was glad to support the “clear path to ending this unnecessary shutdown in a responsible way that quickly pays federal workers and reopens the federal government.”Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who voted to support the Republican measure, posted to X Monday night about his decision.”Feed everyone. Pay our military, government workers, and Capitol Police. End the chaos in airports. Country over party,” Fetterman said.With the stopgap funding bill passed through the Senate, the legislation moves to the House of Representatives for a vote, which like the Senate is controlled by Republicans. The chamber is expected to reconvene as early as Wednesday, as Tuesday is a national holiday.”It appears to us this morning that our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end, and we’re grateful for that,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Monday. “At least some Democrats now finally appear ready to do what Republicans and President Trump and millions of hardworking American people have been asking them to do for weeks.”The House — which Johnson has kept out of session throughout the standoff — would be called back this week, he said.- Obamacare – At the heart of the Senate standoff was Democrats’ demand to extend health insurance subsidies expiring at the end of the year. Republicans insisted any negotiation occur after the government is re-opened.Millions of Americans who have purchased health insurance through the “Obamacare” program would see their costs double if the subsidies are not extended.Sunday’s breakthrough agreement would re-open the government through January, with some programs funded for the full fiscal year, and reverse some of the Trump administration’s firings of federal workers.The bill notably would restore funding for the SNAP food aid program, which helps more than 42 million lower-income Americans pay for groceries.While the Senate’s Republican leadership has agreed to hold an eventual vote on health care, it does not ensure the insurance subsidies will be extended.”After 40 days of uncertainty, I’m profoundly glad to be able to announce that nutrition programs, our veterans, and other critical priorities will have their full-year funding,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said late Sunday.- Divided Democrats -Senator Jeanne Shaheen, one of eight Democratic caucus members who backed the measure, said the Senate “took a big step forward towards protecting the health care of tens of millions of Americans.”She said the agreement would grant Democrats, despite being in the minority, the power to call a vote on health care legislation.However, with the extension of the subsidies not guaranteed, the move has angered party members who preferred to keep holding out.”Pathetic,” California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X in reaction to the announced agreement.Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer voted no, saying he could “not in good faith” support a measure “that fails to address the health care crisis.””This fight will and must continue,” he vowed.Some lawmakers criticized Schumer himself for failing to keep the Democrats united.”Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership,” Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton said Sunday. 

An additional 2,300 US flights were cancelled Monday as President Donald Trump threatened to dock pay for air traffic controllers who called in sick during the government shutdown.After Trump ripped absent aviation workers as unpatriotic, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) labor union hailed members working without pay as “unsung heroes” in a statement that called for Congress to immediately end the shutdown.”Enough is enough,” the union said. The back-and-forth highlights the mounting strain on the aviation industry as the record-breaking shutdown hit day 41, though a compromise bill advancing in Congress was raising hopes of a resolution this week.The air traffic control system was already under strain prior to the shutdown due to understaffing, and is facing a surge in passengers with upcoming Thanksgiving holiday travel.Besides Monday’s 2,300 cancellations, more than 8,700 flights involving US airports were delayed, according to website FlightAware. And carriers have already scrapped 1,100 flights scheduled for Tuesday, the flight tracker reported.The Trump administration last week ordered 10 percent reductions in flights at dozens of airports, including some of the nation’s busiest, due to “staffing triggers.”Trump took to social media on Monday to threaten that controllers who do not return to work “will be substantially ‘docked.'””All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!” he demanded on his Truth Social platform.Trump said he was recommending a bonus of $10,000 to the “GREAT PATRIOTS” who did not take time off during the shutdown.His statement was posted just as the air traffic controller union was concluding a press conference, timed to the second consecutive zero-dollar paycheck for its members.Union president Nick Daniels called an emerging deal in Congress a “right step in the right direction.””Air traffic controllers should not be the political pawn during a government shutdown,” said Daniels, who has spoken in increasingly dire terms since federal funding first lapsed on October 1.A NATCA statement released later Monday, following Trump’s social media threat, said controllers “deserve our praise.””This nation’s air traffic controllers have been working without pay for over 40 days,” the union said. “The vast majority of these highly trained and skilled professionals continue to perform one of the most stressful and demanding jobs in the world, despite not being compensated. Many are working six-day weeks and ten-hour days without any pay.” Democratic congressman Rick Larsen called Trump’s comments “nuts.””The women and men working long hours in air traffic control towers to keep the aviation system running deserve our thanks and appreciation, not unhinged attacks on their patriotism,” said the Democrat from Washington state.Hours later, during a phone-in interview to broadcaster Fox News, Trump doubled down on the bonuses but admitted he was unsure where the funds might come from.”I don’t know. I’ll get it from someplace…I always get the money from someplace,” the billionaire president said. “Regardless, it doesn’t matter.”- Working two jobs -Prospects for a resolution to the longest shutdown in US history looked brighter on Monday, after enough Democrats in the US Senate joined Republicans to pass a bill to fund the government through January.However, Daniels noted that after a lengthy shutdown in 2019 it took two and a half months for all controllers to receive back pay.Meanwhile, “January 30 will loom around the corner,” he added, alluding to uncertainty about what will happen after the next spending bill expires.Daniels was joined at the event by Amy Lark, who works at an air traffic facility in Virginia.Her family is having to make do without two paychecks, because Lark’s husband also works for the agency.”Yesterday, my kids asked me how long we could stay in our house. Having to answer that question was heartbreaking,” said Lark.The cutbacks are also forcing travelers to adapt.”It’s a little crazy this morning,” said Jack Nicks at Miami International Airport, adding he doublechecked to make sure his flight would be ready for takeoff.”I have other friends that are flying today. They’ve already had three flight changes. So it’s a little rough.”