Congressional negotiators and President Donald Trump have agreed to short-term legislation to end the government shutdown that began on Jan. 20, after Congress was unable to agree on spending legislation. Trump signed the bipartisan bill, restoring federal funding for an additional three weeks.
Under the measure approved today, all federal agencies reopened, effective immediately, and are fully funded until Feb. 8.
The measure’s passage reopens the FAA's United States Aircraft Registry, which had been closed by the shutdown. When the U.S. Registry shuts down, it halts the purchase, sale, maintenance, and in some cases, even the movement, of aircraft. The written approval of the federal government is required for all those activities. According to FAA data, more than 10,000 aircraft registrations expire each month, and cannot be renewed while the registry is closed.
Hours after the government shutdown went into effect, several general aviation (GA) groups urged the Department of Transportation (DOT) to reopen it, citing the registry’s essential functions. Read the GA group’s letter in its entirety.
On a daily basis, general aviation also relies on services and decision-making from the DOT, dozens of FAA offices, the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
NBAA will continue to strongly urge all sides to find a bipartisan way to approve a long-term spending bill, and to warn policymakers of the significant impact of another shutdown if no long-term agreement can be reached in three weeks.
