The United States Senate has passed a crucial funding bill that could bring an end to the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history.
The measure was approved late Monday night in a 60–40 vote, with nearly all Republican senators joining eight Democrats who broke ranks with their party to back the proposal.
The bill provides temporary funding for the federal government through the end of January, paving the way for agencies to resume full operations and for federal workers to return to their posts.
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration before it can be signed into law by President Donald Trump, who earlier signalled his willingness to approve the deal.
The breakthrough followed a weekend of intense negotiations between a small group of Democratic senators and Republican leaders eager to end the standoff that had crippled public services and left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay.
Republicans, holding 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 Maine Independent Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, in supporting the measure.
Only one Republican, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky voted against it, siding with the majority of Democrats who opposed the proposal.
Applause broke out in the Senate chamber as the final vote count was announced, marking a rare display of bipartisan unity after weeks of gridlock.
