The longest government shutdown in US history could end this week after a compromise that would restore federal funding cleared an initial Senate hurdle yesterday, though it was unclear when Congress would give its final approval.
The deal would restore funding for federal agencies that legislators allowed to expire on October 1, bringing welcome relief to low-income families that have seen food subsidies disrupted, hundreds of thousands of federal workers who have gone unpaid for more than a month, and travellers who have faced thousands of cancelled flights.
• President Donald Trump demanded air traffic controllers return to work as government-directed flight cuts and air traffic staffing absences continue to wreak havoc with US air travel.
Trump added that he will reward those who did not take any time off during the 41-day federal government shutdown, but it is not clear how many controllers could qualify.
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