Legislators Take Break From Vacation, Hammer Out Deal To Get FAA Back To Work

After nearly two weeks of a partial Federal Aviation Administration shutdown that has left 4,000 employees without pay and kept millions of dollars in taxes from being collected, Democrats and Republicans have come up with some sort of deal that could get the agency back up and working as early as tomorrow.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says that the two opposing sides have “been able to broker a bipartisan compromise between the House and the Senate” that would fully fund the Federal Aviation Administration, but “does not resolve the important differences that still remain.”

“But I believe we should keep Americans working while Congress settles its differences, and this agreement will do exactly that,” added Reid.

Earlier this week, it looked like the shutdown could go on for weeks after senators were unable to come to an agreement before breaking for August recess. But the White House and the Dept. of Transportation appear to have been successful in urging enough members of Congress back to the brokering table to hammer out some sort of arrangement.

It’s estimated that the government is missing out on $30 million in tax revenue for each day the shutdown continues. Until a deal is worked out, dozens of vital FAA airport inspectors are still working without pay. Meanwhile, air traffic controllers have worked without interruption because their salaries come from a different pool of funds than the currently furloughed employees.

Reid announces deal on FAA funding [CNN]

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