Government shutdown ends: Impact on New York-area airports | Live updates

President Donald Trump's administration returned to the Supreme Court on Monday in a push to keep full payments in the SNAP federal food aid program frozen while the government is shut down.

The request is the latest in a flurry of legal activity over how a program that helps buy groceries for 42 million Americans should proceed during the historic U.S. government shutdown. Lower courts have ruled that the government must keep full payments flowing, and the Supreme Court asked the administration to respond after an appeals court ruled against it again late Sunday.

Solicitor General D. John Sauer confirmed that the federal government still wants those lower-court orders put on hold, though in a letter to the justices he also pointed to reports that Congress could soon end the shutdown with a compromise that would fund SNAP.

Once passed, the government funding package would refill funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as ensuring that states that spent their own funds to keep it running during the shutdown will be reimbursed.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, in floor remarks on Monday, pushed for the deal to end the shutdown to be passed as quickly as possible, as questions remain on timing.

"I said that we will be voting on the final package in the very near future, and I'm hoping that will be hours and not days," Thune said.

It takes unanimous approval of all 100 senators to speed ahead toward a final vote. If there is an objection from even one senator, it would be enough to slow the process down.

"I'm grateful that the end is in sight, but I would encourage every member of this body, Democrat or Republican, pro-bill or anti-bill, not to stand in the way of being able to deliver the coming relief quickly. The American people have suffered for long enough," Thune said.

So far on Monday there have been nearly 50 flight cancelations at Newark Liberty International Airport and more than 60 delays.

Anthony Johnson has more:

Anthony Johnson reports from Newark Liberty Airport.

President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at air traffic controllers who have called out of work amid the government shutdown, as he recommended a $10,000 bonus for those workers who kept working without pay.

"All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!" Trump wrote. "Anyone who doesn't will be substantially 'docked.' For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn't take ANY TIME OFF for the 'Democrat Shutdown Hoax,' I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country. For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn't step up to help the U.S.A."

The president went on to call for workers who took time off to leave the profession "with NO payment or severance of any kind"

"You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind!" Trump wrote. "You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering."