Senators reach deal that could end U.S. gov’t shutdown

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US senators reached a bipartisan deal Sunday that would resume federal funding and end a shutdown which has stretched to a record 40 days and forced many government operations to grind to a halt, US media reported.

Outlets including CNN and Fox News reported the lawmakers had reached a stopgap agreement to fund the government through January after wrangling over health care subsidies, food benefits and President Donald Trump’s firings of federal employees.

As news of the major breakthrough emerged, Trump told reporters when he arrived at the White House after a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida: “It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending.”

The legislative measure is set to get a procedural vote in the Senate later Sunday night.

Once it clears the Senate, it would need to pass the Republican-led House of Representatives and then head to Trump’s desk for his signature.

According to lawmakers, the bill would restore funding for the SNAP food stamp program which helps more than 42 million lower-income Americans pay for groceries.

It would also reverse Trump’s firings of thousands of federal workers over the past month, and assure a vote on extending health care subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.

“This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren’t willing to do,” Senate Democrat Tim Kaine said in a statement.

The bill — a so-called continuing resolution (CR) to keep government funded at current levels — “will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay” as required by law, he added.