"Turning point" in talks?: Rare special session called due to US budget dispute

The longest shutdown in US history is increasingly affecting the country's population. While residents are growing increasingly frustrated and US President Donald Trump's approval ratings are declining, there is talk in Washington of a "turning point." However, an agreement has still not been reached.

No solution was reached in the US budget dispute on Saturday, following 39 days of a partial government shutdown. The Senate will now attempt a resolution in a rare session on Sunday (local time). The workday ended without the announcement of bipartisan agreements and without the release of the complete funding bills for the entire year.

Earlier, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, had spoken of a positive turn in bipartisan talks. He said they were working on agreements to temporarily reopen the government. In addition, three longer-term funding bills for some agencies are expected to be passed. The shutdown has placed many federal employees on furlough. It is also affecting, among other things, food aid and air travel.

According to the plans, senators are to approve short-term bridge financing. This would secure the operation of the government until the end of January and give lawmakers more time to reach an agreement on the remaining nine budget bills, said Republican Senator John Hoeven. In addition, three legislative packages are intended to secure funding for agriculture, food programs, military construction projects, veterans programs, and the operation of Congress until September 30, 2026. Thune expressed hope for a vote as early as Saturday but left the timeline open.

The main point of contention remains healthcare. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, accused President Donald Trump's administration of withholding funds for the SNAP food aid program and restricting air traffic at certain airports for political reasons.

Hundreds of flight cancellations

On Saturday afternoon (local time), according to the website "FlightAware," more than 1,000 flights within, to, or from the USA were canceled. Nearly 4,400 other flights were reportedly delayed.

According to NBC, the worst affected airport was Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. Second was Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, through which many travelers arrive in New York.

Because Democrats and Republicans in Congress cannot agree on a budget, large parts of the regular government's operations are paralyzed. Many federal employees are currently not receiving their salaries. Programs to provide food assistance to low-income households are under pressure. Operations at the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and for ground staff at airports are also affected.

The FAA plans to initially reduce flight movements by about four percent, with reductions potentially reaching ten percent by mid-month. Nearly 1,000 flights were canceled on Friday alone. Many cancellations are currently being mitigated because flights are not fully booked during the off-season. Nevertheless, airports reported long lines and delays.

The German Foreign Office is now explicitly warning of potential delays at security checkpoints, customs, and airport check-in in its travel advice for the USA. Travelers should allow extra time and check the status of their flight.