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 almost all Republicans and eight Democrats supporting the plan. The bill secures government funding through the end of January.
The measure now moves 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 deal. The agreement followed intense weekend negotiations between both parties to restart essential services and bring federal workers back to their jobs.
Bipartisan Effort Pushes Bill Forward
Republicans, who control the Senate 53-47, 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 with their party to back the deal. Maine’s independent senator Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, also supported the measure.
Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, joined most Democrats in voting against it. The chamber was nearly empty when the vote concluded, but those who remained applauded the result. “We are reopening government and ensuring federal employees get the pay they earned,” said Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who helped write the bill.
Shutdown’s Broad Impact on Daily Life
The government has been partially closed since October, leaving about 1.4 million federal workers unpaid or working without compensation. The shutdown has disrupted vital services and affected travel and public programs across the country.
Air travel was hit especially hard on Monday, with more than 2,400 flights cancelled and around 9,000 delayed, according to FlightAware. Food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans have also been interrupted, and many federal agencies have reduced operations or shut down completely.
Next Battle in the House
The Republican-led House of Representatives now faces a tight vote. Lawmakers have been away from Washington since mid-September, but Speaker Mike Johnson has called them back for debate on Wednesday.
Republicans hold only a two-seat majority, making every vote crucial. It remains unclear how long it will take for the House to pass the bill, but political pressure to end the shutdown is mounting fast.
Inside the Agreement
The deal funds the government through 30 January. It provides full-year budgets for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. The agreement also guarantees back pay for federal employees and extends funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through next September.
A key provision ensures a December vote on healthcare subsidies set to expire this year. Those subsidies help millions afford insurance through federal marketplaces. Democrats had insisted that no new funding would pass without a plan to protect those benefits.
Division Among Democrats
The compromise was negotiated by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and several Democrats, including Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Angus King of Maine. But not all Democrats supported the outcome.
California Governor Gavin Newsom denounced the decision as “pathetic.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the agreement “does nothing to solve America’s healthcare crisis.”
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who voted in favour, defended the compromise. He said federal workers in his state thanked him for helping to end the shutdown. Thune pledged to address the healthcare issue by mid-December, but Speaker Johnson has said he will not allow a House vote on it.
Trump Backs Compromise Deal
President Trump voiced support for the Senate agreement earlier on Monday. “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly,” he said from the Oval Office. “The deal is very good.”
If the House passes the bill, the government could reopen within days, ending a record-breaking shutdown that has frozen services, stretched families’ finances, and tested Washington’s ability to find common ground.
