Government Shutdown Set to End as House Prepares to Vote on Funding Bill

Government Shutdown Nears End as House Set to Vote on Funding Bill

DENVER — A long-awaited resolution to the historic government shutdown is on the horizon, as the U.S. House prepares to vote Wednesday evening on a Senate-passed funding bill. This legislation, if approved, would bring an end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which has lasted over 40 days.

President Donald Trump has indicated his willingness to sign the bill, according to reports from ABC News. Should the government reopen, experts predict that federal services across the country, including those in Colorado, could return to normal by Monday at the latest.

“Technically, our federal employees should return to work immediately after President Trump signs this new bill,” said Robert Preuhs, a political science professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

In Colorado alone, thousands of federal workers have been affected by the shutdown, with over 2,100 filing unemployment claims since it began. Many have been either furloughed or working without pay, creating significant financial strain for families across the state.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) has been proactive in addressing the needs of federal employees. A spokesperson stated, “Federal law requires back pay for the time federal workers are furloughed. Once they receive their back pay, federal workers are responsible for paying back any unemployment benefits they received during the shutdown.”

Professor Preuhs anticipates that employees who have been working without pay will likely see their paychecks by the next pay period. “It depends on the exact pay schedule, but they should receive a full paycheck soon after the government reopens,” he explained.

In addition to federal workers, the shutdown has also impacted Colorado’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Approximately 568,000 beneficiaries have faced delays in their EBT card reloads. However, Preuhs reassured that SNAP benefits should resume quickly once the government reopens, likely within days.

Earlier this week, the Colorado Department of Human Services announced that partial payments for November would begin for those relying on SNAP. If current guidance holds, beneficiaries can expect their EBT cards to be reloaded by the end of the week.

As the House prepares for the crucial vote, Coloradans are hopeful for a swift resolution to the shutdown, allowing federal services and support systems to return to normalcy. The impact of the shutdown has been felt deeply across the state, and many are eager for the relief that reopening the government will bring.