The United States Senate has passed a critical funding bill that could end the nation’s longest government shutdown within days. Senators voted 60-40 late on Monday, with most Republicans and eight Democrats backing the deal. The measure will fund the government until the end of January.
The bill now heads 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 agreement. The breakthrough came after weekend negotiations between members of both parties aimed at restarting vital public services and getting federal employees back to work.
Bipartisan Votes Push Deal Through
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and needed at least 60 votes to move the bill forward. Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen and Jeanne Shaheen crossed party lines to support the measure. Maine’s independent senator, Angus King, who aligns with Democrats, also voted in favour.
Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the bill, joining most Democrats who voted against it. When the final count was announced, applause filled the nearly empty chamber. “We are reopening the government and ensuring that federal workers receive the pay they earned,” said Republican Senator Susan Collins, one of the bill’s authors.
Millions Hit Hard by Shutdown
The shutdown began in October and has left about 1.4 million federal employees without pay or working without compensation. The crisis has disrupted air travel, delayed benefits, and slowed essential programs across the country.
On Monday, more than 2,400 flights were cancelled and nearly 9,000 delayed, according to FlightAware. The shutdown also halted food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans. Many federal agencies have operated at reduced capacity or shut down entirely, deepening the impact on local communities.
House Faces Tight Vote
The next step lies in the House of Representatives, where Republicans control a narrow two-seat majority. Members have been away from Washington since mid-September, but Speaker Mike Johnson has recalled them to begin debate on Wednesday.
Every vote will matter, and uncertainty remains about how long it will take to approve the measure. Political pressure is mounting to end the shutdown quickly and restore public services.
What the Bill Contains
The new funding package extends government operations through 30 January. It includes full-year budgets for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. It guarantees back pay for all affected federal employees and secures funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through next September.
A key provision sets a December vote on extending healthcare subsidies that are due to expire this year. These subsidies help millions of Americans pay for insurance through government marketplaces. Democratic leaders had refused to back any funding deal that did not address this issue.
Democratic Rift Over the Deal
The agreement 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 approved.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the compromise as “pathetic.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said it “fails to address America’s healthcare crisis.”
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who voted for the deal, defended his choice, saying federal workers in his state thanked him for helping to end the shutdown. Thune promised to revisit the healthcare subsidy issue by mid-December, though Speaker Johnson has said he will not allow a House vote on it.
Trump Signals Green Light
President Trump voiced support for the agreement earlier on Monday. “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “The deal is very good.”
If the House passes the bill, the government could reopen within days, ending a historic shutdown that has stretched into months, halted key services, and left millions of Americans waiting for relief.
