The federal government shutdown that began on October 1 came to an end this week after Republican and Democratic Senators struck a deal on the evening of November 9. The 43-day shutdown was the longest in American history. The Senate on November 11 passed the deal by a 60-40 vote. The U.S. House of Representatives was brought back into session on November 12 and voted 222-209 to pass the deal. President Trump signed the legislation late on November 12, officially ending the shutdown.
Government agencies with oversight of the rail industry, such as the Federal Railroad Administration and the National Mediation Board (NMB), should now begin to resume normal operations though it may take them a few days to get up to speed.
Some vital rail safety initiatives were in limbo during the federal government shutdown, including the NTSB’s Rail Worker Safety Summit and the FRA’s safety culture assessment at the Union Pacific Railroad. Additionally, other operations were halted. For example, the NMB did not issue a public report on the recommendations of Presidential Emergency Board 253 at the Long Island Rail Road because the agency’s communications staff was furloughed.