US senators have approved a bill that could bring an end to the longest government shutdown in history. The 41-day shutdown led to temporary suspension of government services, affecting around 1.4 million federal employees who were either on unpaid leave or working without pay.
The vote of 60-40 came after a weekend of negotiations in Washington, where a minority of Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement. The bill will now move to the US House of Representatives for a vote expected on Wednesday, November 12.
Since running out of funds on October 1, the government had to suspend many services, causing disruptions in various sectors, including US air travel. Over 7,000 flights were delayed, and 2,000 were canceled due to staffing shortages.
President Trump took to social media to demand that unpaid air traffic controllers return to work immediately. The legislation passed includes protections for federal workers against further layoffs until January and ensures they will receive back pay once the shutdown ends. It also reverses the mass firings of federal employees that occurred since the shutdown began.
President Trump expressed support for the bill, aiming to swiftly reopen the country. The House, which has been on recess since mid-September, will reconvene to vote on the legislation, potentially extending the shutdown for a few more days.
Republicans have pledged to vote on extending health care subsidies by mid-December, but the outcome remains uncertain. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to return promptly to Washington due to shutdown-related travel delays.
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders criticized the deal as a “horrific mistake,” noting that five Democrats changed their votes, enabling the Republicans to pass the compromise.
Reports suggest that the US House of Representatives could vote on the funding bill on Wednesday, reinstating government funding for federal agencies that lapsed last month. Several Democratic senators broke party lines to support the compromise deal.
Majority Leader of the US Senate, John Thune, expressed relief at the progress, calling it the end of a prolonged shutdown.