Senate passes bill to end US government shutdown
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The US Senate approved a temporary deal to end the 41-day government shutdown—the longest in US history—restoring federal agency funding and halting layoffs until January.
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The Capitol is seen in Washington on November 4, 2024. (AP)
The US Senate has voted to end the 41-day government shutdown, the longest in the country's history, by passing a temporary funding agreement aimed at restoring federal operations and halting further disruptions.
The bill, approved in a 60–40 vote, revealed sharp divisions in Congress. While a majority of Republicans supported the measure, eight Democrats broke ranks and voted for it after failing to secure a deal that linked resumed government funding to extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire in December.
Temporary agreement restores funding, halts layoffs
The agreement, which extends funding until January, comes after weeks of tense negotiations between Republicans and Democrats over healthcare provisions, food assistance, and President Donald Trump's decision to lay off federal employees.
It restores funding for federal agencies suspended since October 1 and temporarily halts Trump's initiative to reduce the federal workforce, preventing any further layoffs until January 30.
During the shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal employees went unpaid, civil aviation services were disrupted, and essential food subsidies were interrupted for millions. The political deadlock highlighted deep structural challenges within the US administration.
Following the vote, President Trump welcomed the temporary deal, describing it as a “very good” agreement. He told reporters in the Oval Office that the government would reopen “very quickly” and confirmed his commitment to the terms of the deal, including the reinstatement of laid-off federal employees.
House is expected to ratify the deal
The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed his intention to ratify the agreement swiftly and send it to the president for final approval.
Despite the breakthrough, political analysts caution that the deal does not provide a lasting solution. With the temporary funding set to expire in January, there are growing concerns that another shutdown could follow if no comprehensive agreement is reached.
