US senators have approved a bill that may bring an end to the longest government shutdown in history. The 41-day shutdown has led to the temporary suspension of government services, affecting approximately 1.4 million federal employees who are either on unpaid leave or working without pay.
Following negotiations over the weekend in Washington, a 60-40 vote was passed, with a minority of Democrats aligning with Republicans to support the agreement. The bill will now go to the US House of Representatives for a vote scheduled on Wednesday, November 12.
Since running out of funds on October 1, numerous government services have been disrupted, causing widespread chaos, including in US air travel. Staffing shortages have resulted in the delay of 7,000 flights and cancellation of 2,000 flights.
President Trump took to social media to urge unpaid air traffic controllers to return to work immediately. The legislation aims to protect federal workers from further layoffs until January and ensure they receive their pay once the shutdown concludes. It also includes a provision to reverse the mass firings of federal workers initiated by the Trump administration since the start of the shutdown.
President Trump has indicated his support for the bill, stating that the country will reopen swiftly. However, the shutdown may continue for a few more days as House members, who have been on recess since mid-September, return to Washington for the vote.
Republicans have committed to holding a vote to extend health care subsidies by mid-December, although success is not guaranteed. Despite initial resistance from Republicans, Senator Shaheen emphasized that the shutdown had effectively raised concerns about healthcare, leading to the promise of a future vote to address the issue.
House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to return to Washington promptly to address shutdown-related delays. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders criticized the deal, calling it a “horrific mistake” after five Democrats switched their votes, providing the exact number needed by Republicans.
According to reports, the US House of Representatives is expected to vote on the funding bill on Wednesday, reinstating government funding for federal agencies that lapsed last month. The compromise deal received support from several Democratic senators who crossed party lines to join Republicans in the 60-40 vote.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed relief at the end of the prolonged shutdown, stating that it was the longest in US history. Email updates can be received for the latest news stories.
