Back in Business

After nearly 43 days, the longest shutdown in government history is over. 

Wednesday, the House reconvened (with some Reps driving cross-country to avoid flight delays and make the vote) to pass a stopgap spending bill, turning Capitol Hill’s lights on through January. Hours later, President Trump gave his Sharpie of approval. 

Now, Washington’s getting its systems back up and running. Over 800,000 furloughed federal workers will head back to work, and SNAP recipients started receiving full benefits as early as yesterday. Transportation Secretary Duffy says flight cancellations will remain at 6% this week, with things ramping back up once safety is “moving in the right direction.” 

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has a lot of make-up work (think: employment, inflation, and consumer-spending reports); data will likely be delayed and come with asterisks. 

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
This shutdown was the longest in history… and it felt long. While a lot can happen in six weeks, and the shutdown’s effects are sure to linger for weeks to come, this moment in time is just that—a moment—compared to eternity. Rest in this hope and let it motivate you toward holiness. 

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” 
Romans 8:18 (CSB) (read full passage)