The United States Senate has approved a key funding bill that could bring the country’s longest government shutdown to an end within days. The measure passed late on Monday in a 60-40 vote, supported by nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats. The deal funds federal operations through the end of January.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, which must approve it before President Donald Trump can sign it into law. Trump said earlier on Monday that he was ready to support the measure. The agreement followed intense weekend negotiations aimed at reopening federal agencies and returning employees to work.
Bipartisan Votes Drive Senate Approval
Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, needed 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 support. Maine’s independent senator Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, also voted in favor.
Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the measure. When the vote was announced, the remaining senators in the chamber applauded. “We are reopening government and ensuring federal workers receive the pay they earned,” said Republican Senator Susan Collins, one of the bill’s authors.
Shutdown Disrupts Millions Nationwide
Since October, about 1.4 million federal employees have been forced to work without pay or take unpaid leave. The shutdown has disrupted travel, food assistance, and other essential services across the country.
On Monday alone, FlightAware reported more than 2,400 flight cancellations and nearly 9,000 delays. Food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans have been suspended. Many federal agencies have slowed or halted operations, leaving communities without vital services.
House Faces Decisive Vote
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives now holds the next critical vote. Lawmakers 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 is essential. Lawmakers face growing pressure to end the shutdown quickly and restore government operations for millions of Americans.
Key Provisions of the Funding Deal
The agreement funds the government through 30 January. It includes 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 schedules a December vote on extending healthcare subsidies due to expire this year. These subsidies help millions of Americans afford insurance through government-run marketplaces. Democratic leaders had demanded this commitment before approving new funding.
Democrats Divided Over the Agreement
The deal was negotiated by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, with Angus King also participating. But the compromise has divided Democrats.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticised the decision as “pathetic.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the package “fails to address America’s healthcare crisis.”
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who supported the bill, defended the agreement, saying federal workers in his state were “thankful” the shutdown could finally end. Thune promised to revisit healthcare subsidies in December, although Speaker Johnson has said he will not allow a House vote on the issue.
Trump Signals Quick Reopening
President Trump told reporters earlier 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 resuming critical services after a historic shutdown that affected millions nationwide.
