The United States Senate has approved a crucial funding bill that could end the longest government shutdown in American history within days. The measure passed late on Monday in a 60-40 vote, with nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats supporting it. The deal keeps the government funded through the end of January.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, which must approve it before President Donald Trump can sign it into law. Trump signalled earlier on Monday that he would support the legislation. The breakthrough followed intense weekend negotiations between members of both parties determined to restore federal operations and pay millions of government workers.
Rare Cooperation Breaks a Political Standoff
Republicans, who control the Senate with a 53-47 majority, needed at least 60 votes to pass the bill. Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen and Jeanne Shaheen joined Republicans in voting for the measure. They were joined by Angus King, an independent senator from Maine who caucuses with the Democrats.
Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted against the legislation. When the vote concluded, the remaining senators in the chamber applauded. “We are reopening the government and ensuring that federal workers get the pay they deserve,” said Republican Senator Susan Collins, who helped draft the bill.
Shutdown Hits Millions of Americans
Since October, the shutdown has left 1.4 million federal employees either working without pay or on unpaid leave. The effects have been widespread, disrupting air travel, food assistance programs and government services nationwide.
On Monday alone, FlightAware reported more than 2,400 cancelled flights and 9,000 delays across the country. Food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans have also been interrupted. Entire departments have slowed to a crawl, and many communities have felt the strain of closed offices and delayed payments.
House Braces for a Tight Vote
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives will now decide the bill’s fate. Lawmakers have been out of Washington since mid-September, but Speaker Mike Johnson has recalled them for debate starting Wednesday.
With a razor-thin two-seat Republican majority, every vote will matter. It remains uncertain how long the process will take, but both parties face growing pressure to end the standoff and restore normal government operations.
Inside the Funding Agreement
The deal extends government funding through 30 January and provides full-year budgets for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. It also guarantees back pay for all federal employees affected by the shutdown and secures funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September next year.
A key provision sets up a December vote on extending healthcare subsidies that are due to expire this year. These subsidies help millions of Americans afford health insurance through government marketplaces. Democrats had refused to back any new funding measure without assurances on this issue.
Divisions Emerge Among Democrats
The agreement was negotiated by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, alongside Angus King of Maine. But the compromise has split Democrats.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticised the decision, calling it “pathetic.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the package “does nothing to address the healthcare crisis facing millions of Americans.”
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who supported the deal, defended the move. He said federal workers in his state were relieved that progress was being made. Thune promised to revisit the healthcare subsidies in December, though Speaker Johnson has already said he will not allow a House vote on the matter.
Trump Signals Green Light for Reopening
President Trump expressed confidence earlier on Monday that the government would reopen soon. “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly,” he said from the Oval Office. “The deal is very good.”
If the House approves the bill, the shutdown could end within days, restoring paychecks to federal employees and restarting critical services. The vote would mark the close of a record-breaking standoff that has tested Washington’s ability to govern and shaken public confidence in its leaders.
