The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would pay back the 800,000 federal workers temporarily laid-off under the government shutdown.
The White House has already said that U.S. President Barack Obama would sign legislation to pay furloughed employees for the days they were not allowed to work. The bill first goes to the Senate, which is also expected to approve it.
The partial government shutdown -- triggered by lawmakers' failure to agree on a spending bill -- is now in its fifth day. Thousands of furloughed workers have already applied for unemployment benefits, with no end to the budget stalemate in sight.
The White House has already said that U.S. President Barack Obama would sign legislation to pay furloughed employees for the days they were not allowed to work. The bill first goes to the Senate, which is also expected to approve it.
The partial government shutdown -- triggered by lawmakers' failure to agree on a spending bill -- is now in its fifth day. Thousands of furloughed workers have already applied for unemployment benefits, with no end to the budget stalemate in sight.