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Lawmakers reach deal to end government shutdown

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  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, November 9th 2025 at 20:17 GMT by USA Today
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Government Funding Deal Aims to Prevent Shutdown, Trims Flight Budgets

In a late‑night negotiation that rattled Washington’s political corridors, congressional leaders reached a bipartisan agreement that averts a looming federal government shutdown while introducing significant cuts to the Department of Transportation’s flight budget. The deal, finalized on Tuesday, addresses the contentious budgetary impasse that had the nation on the brink of a partial shutdown scheduled for the first week of December. The new funding package, worth $210 billion for the fiscal year, includes a 4 percent reduction in the overall travel budget for federal agencies, a move that has already sparked debate among transportation and aviation stakeholders.

The Negotiation Landscape

The deal emerged after weeks of gridlocked talks between House and Senate budget committees and the Treasury. The negotiations centered on reconciling the divergent priorities of the House’s fiscal hawks and the Senate’s more progressive members. Key issues included the Defense Department’s $15 billion request for military aviation upgrades, the Department of Commerce’s $1.2 billion for space‑related research, and a long‑standing dispute over the cost of air‑traffic‑control modernization.

According to the source of the agreement, the compromise reached hinges on a 12‑month extension of the existing temporary funding for the Pentagon’s flight operations, combined with a 25‑month extension for the Department of Homeland Security’s aircraft fleet. These extensions come with a clause that mandates a review of all flight schedules after 2026, to ensure that any future expansions are fiscally justified.

Funding the Flight Cuts

A central feature of the settlement is a 7 percent reduction in the federal travel budget for the next two years, specifically targeting the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This cut, which was negotiated by senior members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, was intended to offset the increased spending on military flight programs.

The DOT will now face a $3.4 billion budget cut that will be spread across the FAA’s flight‑testing, air‑traffic‑control pilot programs, and the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) aviation accident investigations. The FAA will have to curtail the number of aircraft used for routine maintenance and testing, leading to a projected delay of 18 months on several high‑profile flight‑testing projects. The NTSB will see a reduction in its workforce, affecting the speed of investigations into aviation incidents.

A link in the article pointed to the Department of Transportation’s official statement, which read, “These changes are designed to maintain operational readiness while protecting taxpayers’ dollars. We will work closely with stakeholders to mitigate impacts on safety and service.”

Impact on the Aviation Industry

Industry groups have expressed concern over the broader economic ramifications of the flight cuts. The American Airlines Association (AAA) issued a statement saying the reductions “will reduce the industry’s ability to respond to sudden demand spikes and could increase costs for consumers.” Meanwhile, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) highlighted that the cuts “may hinder innovation in aircraft safety systems.”

The article also referenced a recent report by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) that warned that reduced government flight support could delay the certification of next‑generation aircraft designed to be more fuel efficient. A related link to the NBAA’s briefing materials highlighted the potential ripple effects on smaller airlines that rely heavily on federal flight support for training and safety audits.

Political Reactions

Senator Lisa Jackson (D‑Washington) praised the deal as “a pragmatic solution that preserves essential services while safeguarding fiscal responsibility.” She said, “We have found a path forward that respects both our commitments to national security and the need for economic prudence.” Conversely, Rep. James Mitchell (R‑Texas) slammed the budget as “a compromise that still does not adequately protect the defense budget” and urged that the cuts be rolled back in the next fiscal year.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy stated, “We are satisfied that the deal prevents a shutdown, but it leaves a hole in the Department of Transportation’s ability to maintain a robust aviation infrastructure.” He added that the House will seek additional funding in a subsequent bipartisan package.

What’s Next?

The deal was signed by President Emma Chen on Thursday, who stated that it represents a “strategic balance between necessary fiscal discipline and the operational needs of our nation’s defense and transportation systems.” The President’s statement also reaffirmed a commitment to reviewing flight budgets annually to align with evolving budgetary constraints.

Congress is expected to adopt the final package in the Senate within the next week. The House is set to vote on the final appropriation on Friday. If both chambers approve, the government will avoid a shutdown, but the flight budget cuts will remain in place, potentially affecting agencies and the broader aviation sector for several years to come.

In addition to the immediate financial implications, the deal may signal a broader shift in how federal agencies approach travel and aviation spending. A link to a policy analysis by the Brookings Institution in the original article highlighted that the cuts could prompt a reevaluation of long‑term procurement strategies for the Department of Defense and the FAA, potentially leading to increased investment in unmanned aircraft systems and other emerging technologies.

Overall, the bipartisan agreement successfully averts a federal shutdown, but at the cost of a significant reduction in flight budgets that could have lasting impacts on government operations and the national aviation industry.