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The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history concluded after the House voted to reopen the government on Wednesday night. President Donald Trump signed the bill, allowing federal employees to return to work and resume normal operations. However, the effects of the shutdown will linger, particularly in the aviation sector.
Federal employees are expected to return to their duties within 24 hours, with back pay processed under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act. According to Fox5 DC, most employees should receive their full back pay within three to five business days, although some delays may occur due to agency-specific payroll systems.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has maintained a six percent reduction in flights at 40 major airports, including Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia, as reported by ABC7 NY. While air traffic controllers will receive their back pay soon, the FAA has not yet lifted its emergency order mandating flight cuts. The agency will only ease these restrictions once system stress decreases sufficiently.
The shutdown's impact extends beyond aviation. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are expected to be restored within 24 hours, providing relief to the nearly 42 million Americans relying on this assistance. However, the exact timeline for benefit restoration will vary by state, as each must reauthorize payments through its respective human services agency.
Despite the government reopening, it may take several weeks for all agencies to fully resume normal operations. Services such as passport renewals and federal courts may experience backlogs as they catch up from the shutdown's disruptions. The FAA's flight reductions and SNAP benefit delays highlight the ongoing challenges as the government works to return to full functionality.
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