US Senate Approves Bill To End Longest Government Shutdown In History
US Senate Approves Bill To End Longest Government Shutdown In History
This step aims at concluding a weeks-long standoff that disrupted food benefits for millions, left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid, and snarled air travel across the country.Groceries
The United States Senate has voted to approve a bipartisan compromise that would end the longest government shutdown in American history.
This step aims at concluding a weeks-long standoff that disrupted food benefits for millions, left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid, and snarled air travel across the country.
The 60–40 vote, which was passed with the support of nearly all Republican senators and eight Democrats, who had sought unsuccessfully to link government funding to the renewal of key health subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
While the agreement schedules a December vote on those subsidies, which currently benefit about 24 million Americans, it offers no assurance they will be extended, according to Reuters.Buy vitamins and supplements
Under the deal, federal agencies whose funding expired on October 1 would be fully restored, and President Donald Trump’s plan to downsize the federal workforce would be paused, preventing any layoffs until January 30.
The measure now heads to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where the Speaker, Mike Johnson, said he aims to bring it to a vote as early as Wednesday before sending it to President Trump for signature.
Trump has publicly endorsed the agreement, calling it “very good.”
If enacted, the deal would fund the government through January 30, allowing federal operations to resume while the national debt, currently at $38trillion, continues to grow by roughly $1.8trillion a year.
The timing comes just a week after Democrats celebrated major electoral victories in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City, where a democratic socialist was elected mayor.
Despite the bipartisan relief, the agreement has drawn frustration from several Democrats who argue it offers little progress on long-term policy.
“We wish we could do more,” said Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the chamber’s No. 2 Democrat.
The government shutting down seemed to be an opportunity to lead us to better policy. It didn’t work.”
A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in late October showed that 50 percent of Americans blamed Republicans for the shutdown, compared with 43 percent who blamed Democrats.
Meanwhile, US stocks rose on Monday as investors welcomed news of the pending resolution, signaling optimism over a return to government stability.
The deal comes amid criticism of Trump’s unilateral fiscal actions, including cancelling billions of dollars in spending and cutting hundreds of thousands of federal jobs, moves that some lawmakers argue infringe on Congress’s constitutional power over public spending.
Notably, the new agreement contains no explicit safeguards to prevent further executive spending cuts.
However, the compromise does secure funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September 30 next year, ensuring continuity for millions of Americans who rely on food benefits even if Congress faces another budget impasse in 2026.
