Senate votes 60-40 to end US government shutdown, bill heads to House

The United States is edging closer to ending its record 40-day government shutdown after the Senate voted 60-40 to approve a compromise funding bill. Although the shutdown is not yet officially over, the vote marks a crucial breakthrough after weeks of stalemate that left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid and key services frozen across the country. The measure now moves to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that he intends to bring it to a vote by Wednesday. If passed there, the bill will head to President Donald Trump for his signature - the final step required to officially reopen the government. Trump has already described the agreement as “very good” and signaled that he will sign it immediately once it reaches his desk.

The 60-40 Senate vote reflected strong bipartisan support, with nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats backing the compromise. The legislation would restore funding for federal agencies that have been closed since October 1, extend government operations through January 30, and temporarily halt Trump’s plan to downsize the federal workforce until that date. It also ensures that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will continue through September 2026, preventing disruptions to food aid for millions of Americans.

The agreement follows weeks of tense negotiations led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House, and centrist Democrats, who secured a provision allowing a future vote on extending health insurance tax credits - a key Democratic priority. However, the deal does not guarantee the continuation of those subsidies, which benefit 24 million Americans. “We wish we could do more,” said Senator Dick Durbin, the chamber’s No. 2 Democrat. “The shutdown seemed like an opportunity to lead us to better policy. It didn’t work.”

The shutdown’s economic and social impact has been unprecedented. Over 1.4 million federal employees have been affected, with many furloughed and others, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, working without pay. The aviation industry alone has lost more than $1.2 billion, with over 3.2 million passengers experiencing cancellations and delays. Economists warn that the 40-day impasse could shave up to two percentage points off U.S. GDP and cause permanent economic damage estimated at $14 billion - the costliest shutdown in American history.

Millions of Americans have also been caught in the fallout. Around 42 million people relying on food assistance faced interruptions, the Head Start program for low-income families halted operations in 18 states and Puerto Rico, and 10,000 children were left without meals or childcare. National parks, museums, and courts remain closed or partially staffed, and the Federal Reserve has struggled to assess the economy without updated government data.

While the deal contains no new safeguards to restrict Trump’s unilateral budget actions, which have already reduced federal payrolls and cancelled billions in spending, investors welcomed the progress. U.S. stocks rose sharply on Monday as optimism spread that the end of the shutdown could stabilize markets and restore confidence in the economy.

If the House passes the measure this week as expected, President Trump’s signature could arrive within hours, allowing federal agencies to reopen and hundreds of thousands of employees to return to work officially ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.