Washington, D.C. — The United States Senate has approved a crucial government funding bill, potentially bringing an end to the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The measure passed late Monday night in a 60–40 vote, with a small group of Democrats joining Republicans to support the compromise legislation that will fund the government through January 30.
The bill’s passage marks a breakthrough in weeks of deadlock that have left millions of Americans affected by suspended government services, grounded flights, and unpaid federal employees. It now moves to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where lawmakers will reconvene on Wednesday to debate the measure.
President Donald Trump signalled earlier Monday that he is prepared to sign the funding bill once it reaches his desk, saying, “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly. The deal is very good.”
The bipartisan deal was negotiated over the weekend by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and a small group of moderates from both parties. Among the eight Democrats who broke ranks to support the measure were Senators Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen, Jeanne Shaheen, and Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
Only one Republican — Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky — joined the majority of Democrats in opposing the bill.
The legislation provides short-term funding to reopen federal agencies and ensure that 1.4 million federal workers — many of whom have been on unpaid leave or working without pay since October — will receive back pay. It also allocates full-year funding for the Department of Agriculture, military construction projects, and legislative agencies, and extends funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to 41 million low-income Americans, until September 2026.
In addition, the bill includes a commitment to hold a December vote on extending federal healthcare subsidies, a key Democratic priority. The subsidies, which help millions of Americans afford health insurance through government-run exchanges, are set to expire later this year.
Senator Susan Collins, one of the bill’s Republican architects, hailed the passage as a relief for federal employees and the public. “We are going to reopen government and ensure that federal workers will now receive the compensation they have earned and deserve,” Collins said after the vote.
The shutdown, which began in October, has disrupted essential services across the country. More than 2,400 flights were cancelled and 9,000 delayed on Monday alone due to staffing shortages, according to FlightAware. Food assistance programs, national parks, and public health services have also faced severe interruptions.
The funding bill’s fate now lies with the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson has called members back to Washington for an emergency session. With Republicans holding a two-seat majority, every vote will be critical to passing the measure.
While some Democrats have criticized the deal for not securing stronger healthcare guarantees, others defended the compromise as a necessary step to end the suffering caused by the shutdown. “The federal workers I represent are saying thank you,” said Senator Tim Kaine, who voted in favour of the bill.
If approved by the House and signed by the president, the legislation would reopen the federal government within days, bringing an end to a shutdown that has shaken public confidence and disrupted the nation’s economy.