Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Trump Backs End of Record 41-Day Government Shutdown


(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump said Monday he backs a bipartisan deal aimed at ending the 41-day government shutdown, as Senate Republican leaders push for a swift vote on the legislation.

When a reporter asked if he supports the agreement, Trump replied: "I would say so."

"I think based on everything I'm hearing, they haven't changed anything, and we have support from enough Democrats, and we're going to be opening up our country. It's too bad it was closed, but we'll be opening up our country very quickly," he told reporters in the Oval Office.

The Senate advanced the agreement Sunday evening with a 60-40 vote, marking a step toward ending the longest shutdown in US history. Eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, which includes provisions for a later vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care subsidies and reinstating federal employees dismissed during the shutdown.

The deal, however, falls short of the health care demands sought by Democrats, including ACA subsidy extensions and restoring Medicaid cuts enacted under Trump’s prior spending legislation.

Democratic Whip Dick Durbin broke with party leadership to back the deal, alongside Democratic Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, Tim Kaine, Jacky Rosen, and independent Sen. Angus King.

Among Republicans, Sen. Rand Paul cast the sole “no” vote.

Final approval of the funding package could still encounter delays, as Senate rules allow any senator to postpone action. Paul invoked that power Monday to seek removal of a provision banning the sale of intoxicating hemp products.

"Just to be clear: I am not delaying this bill. The timing is already fixed under Senate procedure. But there is extraneous language in this package that has nothing to do with reopening the government and would harm Kentucky’s hemp farmers and small businesses," he wrote on the US social media company X’s platform.

The legislation must also pass the House of Representatives before it can reach Trump’s desk for signature, formally reopening the federal government.

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