The deal includes $1.375 billion to fund 55 miles of border fencing. However, that’s a few billion dollars short of President Donald Trump’s original ask of $5.7 billion.
David Cardullo, who’s an aviation safety inspector based in Massachusetts, doesn’t think the government will shutdown again, but he said the uncertainty has been frustrating.
“(Federal workers are) just stuck in the middle,” Cardullo said. “Whatever (politicians) decide they want to debate about we’re the pawns that get used in the middle and it’s not fair.”
Cardullo was furloughed and then worked without pay for two weeks during the last shutdown.
His job requires him to make plans in advance, so he’s hoping there won’t be anymore delays.
“I got work scheduled for next week and the week after and I hope I can get to it,” Cardullo said.
Dan Cruz, an air traffic systems specialist at T.F. Green Airport, also thinks the government won’t close for a second time, but he wants to see additional legislation passed in the future that would make shutdowns illegal.
“Whatever conflicts they’re having, whatever disagreements Congress and the president is having, it affects hundreds of thousands of people and to me it’s just so unnecessary,” Cruz said.
Cruz added nothing is gained by shutting down the government either.
Congress still has to pass the agreement on border funding before Trump can approve it.
If the government does not meet Friday’s deadline, more than 11,500 federal workers in Rhode Island could be affected.