On Wednesday, Democrat Adelita Grijalva will be sworn in as a member of Congress, marking the end of a seven-week wait since her special election victory in Arizona. House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed in a CNN interview that Grijalva will take her oath of office immediately after the House convenes and prior to voting on a funding bill aimed at ending the ongoing government shutdown. The House is expected to start voting on this package as early as 4 p.m. Wednesday. Grijalva expressed mixed feelings about her impending swearing-in, noting the irony that one of her first official acts will be to vote on a bill that she believes fails to address affordable health care for Americans.
Meanwhile, the shutdown continues to have widespread effects, particularly on federal employees who have been furloughed or working without pay. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, speaking to reporters in Wisconsin, assured that air traffic controllers—who recently missed their second paycheck due to the shutdown—would receive partial back pay quickly once the government reopens. Duffy explained that under the reopening package, controllers could expect to receive about 70% of their owed pay within 48 hours of the shutdown ending, a significant relief compared to waiting weeks for reimbursement. Federal law mandates that back pay be issued as soon as possible after funding lapses end, but the delay has nonetheless caused financial hardship for many workers.
One of the more controversial provisions in the proposed legislation addresses the issue of federal law enforcement access to senators’ data. The bill allows senators to initiate lawsuits if their data is seized or subpoenaed without notification—a move seemingly designed to target recent actions by the Justice Department during special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s activities related to the 2020 election. In 2023, FBI subpoenas obtained phone records of eight senators and one congressman tied to calls made around the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, sparking GOP outrage over the lack of prior notification.
Under the new bill, service providers must inform Senate offices and the Senate sergeant at arms if federal law enforcement requests senators’ data. Courts cannot delay this notification unless the senator is the target of a criminal investigation. Senators whose data is improperly accessed or disclosed may sue the United States for damages up to $500,000 per violation, with lawsuits allowed up to five years after the senator becomes aware of the violation. The legislation restricts the government’s ability to claim immunity in such cases and applies retroactively to incidents occurring since January 2022. This provision is widely viewed as a direct response to the FBI’s 2023 subpoena actions and aims to protect senators’ privacy and legislative independence.
The funding package also includes substantial financial support to enhance security for lawmakers, responding to growing concerns about political violence and threats against members of Congress. The Senate portion of the appropriations bill allocates $203.5 million specifically for congressional security measures. Overall, the House and Senate will receive $3.5 billion for operations through September 2026—$2 billion for the House and $1.5 billion for the Senate. Each senator’s office will receive an additional $750,000 to implement enhanced security protocols, including protective services for senators and their residences at all times, regardless of their physical location.
Additional funding will support the Senate sergeant at arms in coordinating these programs, while the House sergeant at arms must brief two House committees on new security initiatives within 30 days of the bill’s passage. The House sergeant at arms is also allocated $100 million to provide security for members and their families. The U.S. Capitol Police, responsible for safeguarding the Capitol complex, will receive $852.2 million under the legislation. This comprehensive boost in funding reflects heightened awareness of the risks lawmakers face amid increasing political polarization and violence.
As the shutdown drags on into its 42nd day, military families and other federal employees continue to bear the brunt of the funding lapse. Veterans Day fell during this prolonged shutdown, intensifying concerns about the impact on military households. Joe Segretto, a federal employee interviewed by CBS News, described the personal toll of missed paychecks, sharing how financial uncertainty affects family plans and children’s activities. Staffing shortages have also increased, with at least 18 air traffic control facilities reporting absences as employees struggle without pay. Despite these hardships, the promise of back pay once the shutdown ends offers some hope, though it does little to alleviate the immediate strain.
Senator John Fetterman