The United States Senate has passed a critical funding bill that could end the nation’s longest government shutdown within days. The measure cleared the chamber late on Monday in a 60-40 vote, supported by nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats. The bill provides government funding through the end of January.
The legislation 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 breakthrough followed intense weekend negotiations aimed at reopening federal agencies and returning employees to work.
Bipartisan Votes Secure Senate Passage
Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, 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 supporting the measure. Maine’s independent senator Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, also voted in favor.
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 Republican Senator Susan Collins, one of the bill’s authors.
Shutdown Disrupts Millions Across the Country
Since October, about 1.4 million federal employees have been working without pay or on unpaid leave. The shutdown has affected travel, food assistance, and other essential government services nationwide.
On Monday alone, FlightAware reported more than 2,400 cancelled flights and roughly 9,000 delays. Food benefits for 41 million low-income Americans have been interrupted. Federal agencies have slowed operations or shut down entirely, creating widespread challenges for communities across the country.
House Faces Critical Vote
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives now must approve the measure. 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 will count. Lawmakers face mounting pressure to restore government operations quickly and provide relief to federal workers.
Key Provisions of the Funding Deal
The bill 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 agreement also schedules a December vote on extending healthcare subsidies that are due to expire this year. These subsidies help millions of Americans afford insurance through government-run marketplaces. Democratic leaders had demanded this commitment before agreeing to the bill.
Divisions Emerge Among Democrats
The deal was negotiated by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, along with Angus King. But the compromise has split Democrats.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the decision “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 compromise, saying federal workers in his state were “relieved” that progress was being made. Thune pledged to revisit healthcare subsidies in December, though Speaker Johnson has said he will not allow a House vote on the issue.
Trump Ready to Sign Funding Bill
President Trump told reporters earlier on Monday that he would sign the measure 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 legislation, the government could reopen within days, restoring paychecks to federal employees and resuming critical services after a historic shutdown that disrupted millions of Americans’ lives.
