US senators have passed a bill that may bring an end to the prolonged government shutdown, which has been the longest in history. The shutdown, lasting 41 days, led to the temporary suspension of government services, leaving about 1.4 million federal employees either on unpaid leave or working without pay.
The 60-40 vote in the Senate came after negotiations over the weekend in Washington, where a minority of Democrats aligned with Republicans to support the agreement. The bill will now proceed to the US House of Representatives for a vote scheduled on Wednesday, November 12.
Following the depletion of funds on October 1, various government services were halted, causing disruptions across different sectors, including US air travel. Staffing shortages resulted in the delay of 7,000 flights and the cancellation of 2,000 flights.
President Trump took to social media to urge unpaid air traffic controllers to return to work immediately. The legislation passed includes provisions to safeguard federal workers from further layoffs until January and ensures their payment once the shutdown concludes. Additionally, it reverses the mass dismissals of federal employees by the Trump administration since the start of the shutdown.
President Trump has expressed support for the bill, anticipating a swift reopening of the country. As members of the House, who have been on recess since mid-September, reconvene to vote on the bill, the 41-day shutdown may extend a few more days.
Republicans have pledged to hold a vote on extending health care subsidies by mid-December, although the outcome is uncertain. Democratic Senator Shaheen stated that the current deal was the only viable option after Republicans remained steadfast.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called on lawmakers to return to Washington promptly due to travel delays caused by the shutdown. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders criticized the deal as a “horrific mistake,” highlighting the five Democrats who switched their votes to enable the agreement, the exact number needed by Republicans.
Reports suggest that the US House of Representatives could initiate voting on the funding bill on Wednesday, with the deal aiming to reinstate government funding for federal agencies that lapsed last month. Several Democratic senators broke party lines to back the compromise deal in the Senate vote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed relief over nearing the end of the prolonged shutdown, calling it the longest in US history.