WASHINGTON (AP) — A White House official says President Barack Obama has signed a bill to end a two-week partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration and allow thousands of employees to return to work.
Lawmakers reached a bipartisan compromise Thursday to extend the FAA’s operating authority through mid-September. The Senate passed the measure Friday, using a “unanimous consent” procedure so lawmakers didn’t have to return to Washington from their recess.
The shutdown has cost the government about $400 million in uncollected airline ticket taxes and idled thousands of construction workers. Transportation officials say FAA employees could return to work and payments for airport construction projects could resume as soon as Monday.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the signing had not been formally announced.
