Senate Unveils New Stopgap Funding Bill to Reopen Government Through Jan. 30
Measure blocks Trump’s layoff orders and guarantees back pay for federal workers; extends authorizations under five-year farm bill
The Senate Appropriations Committee released a new continuing resolution to reopen the government through Jan. 30, paired with a three-bill “minibus” expected to move in the coming days. Votes on the package begin tonight, with final passage possible by Monday. Link to text.
The legislation halts President Donald Trump’s mass-layoff authority until Jan. 30 and reverses all layoffs issued since Oct. 1. The bill would provide pay for furloughed federal workers and resumption of withheld federal payments to states and localities.
The Senate is set to hold a procedural test vote on Sunday. If that vote succeeds, the Senate will need the consent of all members to end the shutdown quickly. Any one senator can force days of delay and votes. The House would then need to pass the bill for the government to reopen, and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said he will give lawmakers two days notice to return.
The Senate accord also falls far short of the goals of House and Senate Democratic leaders, who had demanded an extension of expiring ObamaCare premium subsidies and a repeal of Medicaid cuts passed by Republicans earlier this year. “We will fight the GOP bill in the House of Representatives,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement Sunday night.
Link to details on the Agriculture appropriations bill which is part of the package. That includes replenishment of USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC).
Another section of the legislation, posted separately by the committee, would also extend authorizations under the five-year farm bill. Link for details.
