The longest-ever US government shutdown moved forward Monday toward an eventual resolution, after several Democratic senators broke ranks to join Republicans in a 60-40 vote passing a compromise deal — sparking intra-party backlash.

Since October 1, the first day of the shutdown, more than a million federal workers have been unpaid, while government benefits and services have been increasingly disrupted.

Severe impacts on air traffic have begun to mount in recent days, with more than 1,000 flights canceled daily, raising the political pressure to end the stalemate.

“We’ll be opening up our country very quickly,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding: “the deal is very good.”

After the vote, Senate Republican Leader John Thune wrote on X that he was glad to support the “clear path to ending this unnecessary shutdown in a responsible way that quickly pays federal workers and reopens the federal government.”

Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who voted to support the Republican measure, posted to X Monday night about his decision.

“Feed everyone. Pay our military, government workers, and Capitol Police. End the chaos in airports. Country over party,” Fetterman said.

With the stopgap funding bill passed through the Senate, the legislation moves to the House of Representatives for a vote, which like the Senate is controlled by Republicans.

The chamber is expected to reconvene as early as Wednesday, as Tuesday is a national holiday.

“It appears to us this morning that our long national nightmare is finally coming to an end, and we’re grateful for that,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Monday.

“At least some Democrats now finally appear ready to do what Republicans and President Trump and millions of hardworking American people have been asking them to do for weeks.”

The House — which Johnson has kept out of session throughout the standoff — would be called back this week, he said.

Obamacare

At the heart of the Senate standoff was Democrats’ demand to extend health insurance subsidies expiring at the end of the year. Republicans insisted any negotiation occur after the government is re-opened.

Millions of Americans who have purchased health insurance through the “Obamacare” program would see their costs double if the subsidies are not extended.

Sunday’s breakthrough agreement would re-open the government through January, with some programs funded for the full fiscal year, and reverse some of the Trump administration’s firings of federal workers.

The bill notably would restore funding for the SNAP food aid program, which helps more than 42 million lower-income Americans pay for groceries.

While the Senate’s Republican leadership has agreed to hold an eventual vote on health care, it does not ensure the insurance subsidies will be extended.

“After 40 days of uncertainty, I’m profoundly glad to be able to announce that nutrition programs, our veterans, and other critical priorities will have their full-year funding,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said late Sunday.

Divided Democrats

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, one of eight Democratic caucus members who backed the measure, said the Senate “took a big step forward towards protecting the health care of tens of millions of Americans.”

She said the agreement would grant Democrats, despite being in the minority, the power to call a vote on health care legislation.

However, with the extension of the subsidies not guaranteed, the move has angered party members who preferred to keep holding out.

“Pathetic,” California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on X in reaction to the announced agreement.

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer voted no, saying he could “not in good faith” support a measure “that fails to address the health care crisis.”

“This fight will and must continue,” he vowed.

Some lawmakers criticized Schumer himself for failing to keep the Democrats united.

“Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership,” Massachusetts Representative Seth Moulton said Sunday.

AFP

Two senior members of the United States Congress, Gregory W. Meeks and Sara Jacobs, have strongly criticized President Donald Trump for threatening to cut off aid and launch military action against Nigeria over alleged persecution of Christians.

In a joint statement on Monday, Meeks, a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Jacobs, a ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee, described Trump’s comments as “irresponsible and reckless.”

The lawmakers also rejected the Trump administration’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” saying it oversimplifies the complex nature of violence in the country.

“The designation ignores the reality that clashes between farmers and herders are often driven by resource scarcity and land competition, not religion,” the statement read. “Terrorist groups have targeted both Christians and Muslims, especially in northern Nigeria, where communities continue to face attacks by criminal gangs known as bandits.”

They commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to promote interfaith harmony and improve security, noting that “all Nigerians deserve protection.”

Meeks and Jacobs further condemned Trump’s threat to “defend Christians” through possible military intervention, calling it a “reckless response to distorted facts.”

“It is incredibly irresponsible for President Trump to threaten military action. Providing security assistance is one thing; threatening intervention is something else entirely. Such rhetoric risks dragging the United States into another unnecessary conflict,” the lawmakers said.

On Trump’s call to cut off U.S. aid to Nigeria, the lawmakers warned that such a move would hurt vital humanitarian and development efforts.

“Trump’s aid cuts have blocked essential programs that provide emergency nutrition and livelihood support initiatives that are key to preventing the spread of insurgency,” they added.

A drone strike reportedly launched by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) has killed more than twenty civilians, including women and children, during a wedding ceremony in the locality of Beydi, between Gossi and Inabaw, in the Timbuktu region.

Counter-insurgrncy analyst, Zagazola Makama, quoted sources to have said that the incident occurred on Thursday when a drone targeted the site of the ceremony, turning what was supposed to be a moment of joy into a tragedy.

Residents described the aftermath as horrific, with mutilated bodies, burned children, and grieving relatives crying in distress amidst the rubble.

The drone came without warning and dropped explosives directly on the wedding gathering. We lost many people men, women, and children.

Sources confirmed that at least 20 civilians were confirmed dead, while several others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby medical facilities.

The Malian authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident. However, independent civil society organizations have condemned the strike, describing it as one of the deadliest targeting errors since the junta took power in 2021.

The attack reignited growing concerns about the military’s increasing reliance on aerial strikes in civilian-populated areas amid its ongoing campaign against armed jihadist groups in the north.

The incident comes amid widespread criticism of the junta for alleged human rights abuses and clandestine dealings with jihadist factions linked to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

Northern Mali has remained a flashpoint of violence since 2012 when insurgent and separatist groups seized large swathes of territory. Despite successive military operations, instability persists, with both jihadist and government forces accused of atrocities against civilians.

In recent months, the junta, supported by Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, has intensified drone operations in the Timbuktu and Gao regions, leading to growing fears among locals of indiscriminate attacks.

The Beydi strike risks deepening mistrust between communities and the armed forces, potentially fuelling recruitment for extremist groups.

[Credit: Zagazola Makama]