This year’s federal government shutdown has officially become the longest one in American history, surpassing the previous record, which occurred over the winter holidays in 2018 into 2019.
And for the first time since it started, there appears to be some life to reopening and further budget talks.
Several political factors are at play here, including results from the most recent elections held on Tuesday around the country, with special emphasis on New Jersey and Virginia. President Trump yesterday morning told a group of Senate Republicans that the election results this week were, in part, due to the shutdown and asked them to eliminate the filibuster and to open up government. As of this writing, that is not anticipated to be the preferred course of action in the Senate.
Meanwhile, bipartisan talks in the Senate have been underway for nearly a week to find a path forward. Those talks are expected to intensify this week now that Election Day has passed. Furthermore, increasing issues for air travelers as we inch closer towards the holiday season has members of both parties conscious of letting the shutdown drag on any further.
I’m optimistic in this update for the first time since the shutdown started that there appears to be a path out forming. As for prognosticating when, I dare not.
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