The United States Senate has approved a compromise bill designed to end the nation’s longest government shutdown, a move that provides temporary relief for federal operations but leaves significant political disputes unresolved.
Senators voted 60 to 40 in favor of the reconciliation bill, with support from nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats. The legislation now proceeds to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
The passage aims to restore funding for federal agencies that expired on October 1, immediately halting the weeks of halted salaries for hundreds of thousands of federal employees, disruptions to the aviation system, and shortages in food assistance for millions of people.
President Donald Trump welcomed the agreement as “a very good deal” and expressed readiness to sign it into law. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated his intention to hold a vote by Wednesday to send the bill to the president for his signature.
The agreement also temporarily delays President Trump’s plans to downsize federal agencies and prohibits the termination of government employees until January 30 of next year.
Democrats had sought to tie the funding bill to an extension of health subsidies benefiting up to 24 million people, which are set to expire at the end of the year. However, this effort was unsuccessful.
The compromise does allow for a new vote on these health subsidies in December, though there is no guarantee that they will be extended. Many Democrats have voiced their dissatisfaction with the bill’s failure to secure the health care funding.
While the agreement temporarily restores government operations, it extends temporary appropriations only until January 30 next year. This temporary measure is also projected to contribute approximately $1.8 trillion annually to the U nation’s current $38 trillion national debt.
The breakthrough follows significant Democratic victories in recent state and local elections, including in New Jersey and Virginia, and the election of a democratic socialist mayor in New York City. These outcomes reportedly intensified pressure on the Senate to resolve the political stalemate.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in late October indicated that 50% of Americans held Republicans responsible for the shutdown, while 43% blamed Democrats.
News of the impending resolution boosted U.S. stock markets on Monday, with investors interpreting it as a positive signal for economic stability.