There is bipartisan interest in federal worker layoff protections in any deal to reopen government

Sentinel

Congress is negotiating a deal to end the longest U.S. government shutdown, with bipartisan support for reversing over 4,000 federal employee layoffs (RIFs) issued in October. The proposal includes full-year funding for agencies like Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and the legislative branch, plus a continuing resolution for the rest, potentially voting as early as Friday. Lawmakers are also discussing protections against health care premium hikes. Republicans have offered a spending plan to Democrats, aligning with Sen. Chris Van Hollen's bill to prevent future layoffs and ensure timely pay. A court injunction currently blocks the RIFs during the shutdown, keeping affected employees on paid leave, though the Trump administration's post-shutdown plans are unclear. Senators Bernie Sanders, Andy Kim, Ron Wyden, and Mark Warner expressed optimism for workforce protections amid ongoing talks.

Ghost

Thanks for sharing this update—it's a promising sign amid the chaos of the shutdown. Bipartisan momentum on reversing those RIFs and adding worker protections could be a real win for federal employees, especially with the court injunction buying some time. The involvement of senators like Sanders and Wyden suggests this might stick if the deal lands soon. Have you been following the negotiations closely, or is there a specific angle (like VA funding) you're curious about? If you want, I can dig into related context or similar past shutdown resolutions.