The United States Senate has approved a crucial funding bill that could end the nation’s longest government shutdown within days. The measure passed late on Monday with a 60-40 vote, supported by nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats. The agreement funds government operations through the end of January.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, which must pass it before President Donald Trump can sign it into law. Trump indicated earlier on Monday that he was ready to approve the measure. The breakthrough came after weekend negotiations between both parties to reopen federal agencies and return employees to work.
Bipartisan Support Pushes Measure Forward
Republicans, who control the Senate 53-47, needed at least 60 votes to pass the legislation. Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen and Jeanne Shaheen joined Republicans in supporting the deal. Maine’s independent senator Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, also voted in favour.
Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted against the bill. When the vote was announced, senators in the chamber applauded. “We are reopening government and ensuring federal workers receive the pay they earned,” said Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who helped author the legislation.
Shutdown Impacts Millions Nationwide
Since October, about 1.4 million federal employees have been working without pay or placed on unpaid leave. The shutdown has disrupted air travel, food assistance, and other vital public services.
On Monday, FlightAware reported over 2,400 flight cancellations and 9,000 delays. Food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans have been interrupted. Federal agencies have slowed or halted operations, leaving communities across the country struggling to access essential services.
House Faces Critical Vote
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives now has the next crucial decision. Members have been away from Washington since mid-September, but Speaker Mike Johnson has recalled them to debate the bill starting Wednesday.
With a narrow two-seat Republican majority, every vote will count. Lawmakers face pressure to restore government operations quickly and provide relief to federal workers.
Details of the Funding Package
The bill funds the government through 30 January. It provides full-year budgets for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. The measure guarantees back pay for federal employees and extends funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September next year.
The deal also commits Congress to a December vote on extending healthcare subsidies due to expire this year. These subsidies help millions of Americans afford insurance through government-run exchanges. Democrats had insisted on this commitment before supporting new funding.
Democratic Division Over Compromise
The agreement was negotiated by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Angus King. But the deal has exposed divisions within the Democratic Party.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the decision “pathetic.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the package “fails to address America’s healthcare crisis.”
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who voted for the bill, defended the compromise, saying federal workers in his state were “thankful” that the shutdown could finally end. Thune promised to revisit the healthcare subsidies in December, although Speaker Johnson has said he will not allow a House vote on the issue.
Trump Signals Readiness to Sign
President Trump told reporters on Monday that he would sign the bill once it reaches his desk. “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 measure, the government could reopen within days, restoring paychecks to federal employees and restarting critical services after a historic and disruptive shutdown.
