After 35 days, the longest government shutdown on record is finally over. So, now what?

Congress needs to get to work. The current funding bill only lasts for 21 days. If Congress and President Trump want to avoid an event like the catastrophe that was the previous shutdown, they need to get to work.

Obviously, this is easier said than done. The shutdown, which was arguably pointless, should serve as a trial run for getting the government funded for the foreseeable future.

The hot point of conversation for future funding bills is Trump’s proposed border security plan, which includes $5.1 billion for a wall. Trump has stated he would veto any bill that does not have funding for the wall in it, apparently excluding the bill he signed to open the government for three weeks.

Democratic members of Congress from across the country have come out against the border wall, with almost all Republican member of Congress for it. Both are refusing to budge. So how does a bill get passed?

Congress — and the president — has to realize that a compromise must be made. By definition, in a compromise, no one party will get everything they want.

Congress needs to compromise, or, risk sending thousands of government workers home without a paycheck … again.

Another problem standing in the way of anything getting done is members putting party before the fate of the country. Now, this isn’t something unique to the Trump years, but it is yet another roadblock standing in the way of getting anything done.

Does canceling Trump’s State of The Union for “security” concerns and canceling Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s trip abroad really get anything done? No.

It’s just a series of political power moves made to make one party look better than the other and doesn’t move Congress one inch closer to getting the government funded for the future.

Congress got a glimpse of what is to come in 21 days if nothing gets done — airports were shut down, government workers were living paycheck to paycheck, historic trees in National Parks were being cut down and much more.

Hopefully a deal can be reached soon. Congress, put politics aside, and get to work before another shutdown becomes inevitable.