US Senate Approves Funding Bill, Paving Way to End Historic Government Shutdown

The US Senate passed a critical funding bill on Monday in a 60-40 vote, potentially ending the longest government shutdown in US history within days. Nearly all Republicans joined eight Democrats who broke ranks to support the measure, which funds the government through January 30, 2026.

The House of Representatives must now approve the bill before President Donald Trump can sign it into law, a move he indicated he is prepared to do.

The bill comes after negotiations over the weekend between Senate Republicans and a handful of Democrats, aiming to restore federal operations and pay 1.4 million federal workers currently on unpaid leave or working without pay.

Among the Democrats supporting the measure were Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, Jackie Rosen, and Jeanne Shaheen, along with Independent Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats. Only one Republican, Rand Paul, opposed the legislation.

Senator Susan Collins, a Republican who helped author the bill, said:
“We are going to reopen government, we are going to ensure that federal employees… will now receive compensation that they’re earned and deserve.”

The package covers funding for the Department of Agriculture, military construction, legislative agencies, and ensures continued payments for federal workers during the shutdown. It also includes SNAP food aid funding until September 2026 and a planned vote on healthcare subsidies in December.

Critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and California Governor Gavin Newsom, argued the bill fails to address long-term healthcare concerns, but supporters cited the urgent need to reopen government and pay federal employees.

The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled House, which will begin deliberations on Wednesday. The tight two-seat majority in the House makes every vote crucial.

President Trump signaled his readiness to sign the bill once it passes, adding, “We’ll be opening up our country very quickly. The deal is very good.”