The United States Senate has passed a major funding bill that could end the nation’s longest government shutdown within days. The measure cleared the chamber late on Monday with a 60-40 vote, supported by nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats. The agreement 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 legislation. The breakthrough followed weekend negotiations aimed at reopening government agencies and returning employees to work.
Bipartisan Votes Push Bill Forward
Republicans, who hold a 53-47 Senate majority, needed at least 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 backing the measure. Maine’s independent senator Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, also voted in favour.
Only one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the bill. When the vote was announced, the remaining senators applauded. “We are reopening government and ensuring federal workers receive the pay they earned,” said Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who helped draft the legislation.
Shutdown Disrupts Millions Across the Country
Since October, about 1.4 million federal employees have been working without pay or placed on unpaid leave. The shutdown has affected air travel, food assistance, and other vital public services nationwide.
FlightAware reported more than 2,400 cancelled flights and nearly 9,000 delays on Monday. Food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans have been interrupted. Several federal agencies have slowed or halted operations, leaving communities without essential services.
House Faces Narrow and Critical Vote
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives now holds the next decisive vote. Lawmakers have been away from Washington since mid-September, but Speaker Mike Johnson has recalled them to debate the bill starting Wednesday.
With only a two-seat Republican majority, every vote is crucial. Lawmakers face growing pressure to end the shutdown quickly and restore government operations for federal workers and the public.
Key Provisions of the Funding Agreement
The deal funds government operations through 30 January. It provides full-year budgets for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, and legislative agencies. It guarantees back pay for federal employees and extends funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September next year.
The agreement also schedules a December vote on extending healthcare subsidies set to expire this year. These subsidies help millions of Americans afford insurance through government marketplaces. Democratic leaders had demanded this commitment before supporting the measure.
Democrats Split Over the Deal
The compromise was negotiated by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, with Angus King also participating. However, the deal has divided Democrats.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticised the agreement, calling it “pathetic.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the measure “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” the shutdown could finally end. Thune promised to revisit healthcare subsidies in December, though Speaker Johnson has said he will not allow a House vote on the matter.
Trump Signals Swift Government Reopening
President Trump told reporters earlier on Monday that he would sign the bill once it reached 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 essential services after a historic shutdown that affected millions of Americans nationwide.
