US Senate Approves Funding Bill, Bringing Historic Shutdown Closer to an End
The United States Senate has passed a critical funding bill that could bring an end to the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history, potentially within days. The measure, approved late Monday in a 60-40 vote, secured support from nearly all Senate Republicans alongside eight Democrats who broke ranks with their party to back the deal. The legislation would fund the federal government until the end of January, allowing essential services to resume and federal employees to receive long-delayed pay.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where it must be approved before it can reach President Donald Trump for signature. Earlier on Monday, Trump indicated he was prepared to sign the measure once it passed both chambers, signaling a potential resolution to a crisis that has dragged on since October.
Negotiations over the weekend paved the way for the agreement. Some Democrats joined Republicans to negotiate terms that would reopen federal offices and restore critical services, demonstrating bipartisan compromise after weeks of political stalemate. In the Senate, Republicans—who hold a 53-47 majority—needed at least 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles, making the support of Democrats essential.
The Democrats who crossed party lines included Senators Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen, and Jeanne Shaheen. They were joined by Independent Senator Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, also voting in favor. Only one Republican, Kentucky’s Rand Paul, sided with the minority Democrats to oppose the bill, reflecting the overwhelming bipartisan support needed to pass the measure.
The announcement of the bill’s passage came in a largely empty Senate chamber, yet the few members present cheered as the vote was confirmed. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who played a pivotal role in authoring the bill, celebrated the milestone. “We are going to reopen government, we are going to ensure that federal employees… will now receive compensation that they’ve earned and deserve,” she said, highlighting the relief the legislation would bring to millions of workers.
The shutdown, which began in October, has had far-reaching effects across the United States. Approximately 1.4 million federal employees have been impacted, either working without pay or placed on unpaid leave. Key government functions have been disrupted, including air travel and social services, affecting millions of Americans. For example, FlightAware reported that over 2,400 flights were canceled on Monday alone, with at least 9,000 more delayed, as airport operations were disrupted by furloughed staff. Additionally, food assistance programs serving more than 41 million low-income Americans were interrupted, compounding hardships for vulnerable populations.
US Senate Passes Funding Bill, Signaling End to Record Government Shutdown
The bill’s passage in the Senate sets the stage for action in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Members of the House, who have been out of session and away from Washington since mid-September, were called back to the capital by Speaker Mike Johnson in anticipation of the Senate deal. Debate and discussion in the House are set to begin on Wednesday, though the exact timeline for approval remains uncertain. Given the narrow two-seat Republican majority in the chamber, every vote will be crucial to secure passage.
The funding measure represents a critical step toward restoring normal government operations. Analysts have noted that it provides temporary relief while giving lawmakers additional time to negotiate longer-term budget agreements and policy issues that contributed to the shutdown. It also allows federal employees to finally receive back pay, offering financial reprieve to households affected by weeks without income.
For the millions of Americans relying on government services, the bill’s approval is a welcome development. From airport operations to food assistance programs, a resolution would mean the resumption of essential functions and a return to stability after more than two months of disruption. While political disagreements over broader budget and policy issues remain, the passage of this funding bill reflects a rare moment of bipartisan cooperation amid a prolonged standoff.
As the House prepares to consider the measure, attention now turns to whether the chamber can move swiftly to approve the legislation. If successful, the government shutdown will finally come to an end, marking a significant milestone in restoring public confidence in federal operations and addressing the immediate needs of employees and citizens alike.
Source- BBC
