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The longest government shutdown in history is on its way to an end after the Senate unanimously approved a bill to reopen the government temporarily.
President Trump made the announcement earlier today in the Rose Garden to reopen the government for three weeks. He will not be receiving the $5.7 billion he demanded for his border wall in exchange for reopening the government. However, Trump still plans on negotiating for the wall within the next three weeks.
The shutdown has had an impact nationally and at the local level for 35 days. Around 800,000 federal workers missed two paychecks and have had to go to soup kitchens and find other means of income. These employees have been guaranteed backpay which is expected to be paid soon. The shutdown also affected LaGuardia Airport after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had to delay flights coming in due to a lack of staff. On top of federal employees, federal programs, organizations and local businesses have also been affected.
With the lack of payment, tensions have risen and the blame has been put mainly on Trump after a Washington-Post-ABC news poll revealed that 53 percent of Americans blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown.
The longest government shutdown prior lasted 20 days back in 1995 under former President Bill Clinton in a standoff with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich over Medicare.
The newly agreed upon bill will now head to the House where it is expected to be approved and will then be signed by Trump.