Overview
- Senators approved the measure 60–40 to fund the government through January 30, restore furloughed staff, and provide retroactive pay.
- The bill now moves to the House, where leaders target a Wednesday vote and defections could matter given Republicans’ slim two-seat edge.
- The FAA has limited departures at 40 major airports since November 7, triggering thousands of cancellations and widespread delays during a key travel period.
- Controllers have worked without pay since October 1, with acute staffing gaps and retirements; in Atlanta, 18 of 22 scheduled controllers did not report for a shift, prompting safety slowdowns.
- Democrats are sharply divided over the Senate deal as President Trump pressures controllers and dangles $10,000 bonuses, while industry tallies daily airline losses near $100 million and reports cite over $5 billion in delayed U.S. arms exports.