The United States Senate has approved a key funding bill that could end the nation’s longest government shutdown within days. Senators voted 60-40 late on Monday, with nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats supporting the measure. The agreement will fund the government until the end of January.
The House of Representatives must now pass the bill before President Donald Trump can sign it. Trump indicated earlier on Monday that he was prepared to approve it. The deal emerged over the weekend after bipartisan talks aimed at restoring government services and getting federal employees back to work.
Bipartisan Support Secures Passage
Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, needed at least 60 votes to advance the bill. Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen and Jeanne Shaheen broke ranks to support it. They were joined by Maine’s Angus King, an independent who works with Democrats.
Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, sided with most Democrats in voting against it. The chamber was nearly empty when the bill passed, but those present cheered the outcome. “We are reopening government and ensuring federal workers are paid what they deserve,” said Republican Senator Susan Collins, one of the bill’s authors.
Widespread Impact of the Shutdown
Since October, the partial government shutdown has left around 1.4 million federal employees unpaid or working without compensation. The disruption has reached across the country, affecting travel, benefits, and public services. On Monday alone, more than 2,400 flights were cancelled and about 9,000 delayed, according to FlightAware.
The shutdown also disrupted food aid for 41 million low-income Americans. Essential services in multiple sectors slowed or stopped entirely, leaving citizens frustrated and local economies under pressure.
House Faces Narrow Margin
The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold only a two-seat majority. Members have been away from Washington since mid-September. After the Senate vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson called lawmakers back to begin debate on Wednesday.
Every vote will matter, and it remains uncertain how quickly the House can act. The outcome will determine whether the shutdown ends this week or continues to strain federal operations.
Details of the Funding Package
The agreement funds the federal government through 30 January. It includes full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. The deal also guarantees back pay for federal workers and extends the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) until September next year.
A separate provision ensures a December vote on extending healthcare subsidies set to expire this year. Those subsidies help millions of Americans pay for insurance through government exchanges. Democratic leaders had refused to support new funding without a clear plan to protect the subsidies.
Tension Within Democratic Ranks
The compromise was negotiated between Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and key Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, along with Angus King of Maine. But the decision exposed divisions within the Democratic Party.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the vote “pathetic,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said it failed to “fix America’s healthcare crisis.” Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who supported the measure, defended his decision, saying federal workers in his state thanked him for helping to end the shutdown.
Thune has promised to revisit healthcare subsidies in December, but Speaker Johnson said he will not allow a House vote on the matter.
President Trump Endorses the Deal
President Trump expressed optimism about the funding agreement on Monday. “We’ll be opening our country very quickly,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “The deal is very good.”
If the House approves the bill, the government could reopen within days, ending a historic shutdown that left millions without pay and brought critical services to a standstill.
