A major breakthrough emerged in Washington as the US Senate passed a bipartisan deal aimed at ending the longest government shutdown in American history.
The shutdown, which began on 1 October, entered its 40th day before this weekend’s negotiations produced the first significant sign of progress.
The agreement, reached after intense talks between Senate Majority Leader John Thune, White House negotiators, and a small group of Democratic senators, cleared its initial procedural vote on Sunday.
It still requires approval from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, but Senate passage marks a turning point in the bitter funding standoff that has crippled essential government services.
The shutdown has left 1.4 million federal workers either furloughed or working without pay, severely affecting operations across transportation, national parks, food aid, and regulatory agencies.
Its ripple effects have also been felt by millions of Americans, from delayed airport operations to threats to food assistance programmes serving 41 million low-income households.
Republicans needed at least 60 votes to advance the deal and secured support from eight Democrats and one independent senator. Kentucky Republican Rand Paul was the lone GOP dissenter, arguing the bill increased national debt.
A key provision included to win Democratic support is a commitment to hold a December vote on the extension of healthcare subsidies set to expire this year, a significant issue for the party.
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Still, Democratic leaders, including Chuck Schumer, criticised the agreement for offering no binding guarantees on healthcare, warning that their negotiators gave away leverage too easily.
The deal would fund parts of the government, including veterans affairs and agriculture, while temporarily financing all remaining departments until 30 January.
This means the US could face another shutdown early next year if lawmakers fail to strike a comprehensive funding agreement.
The package also guarantees full back-pay for federal workers affected by the shutdown and extends funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program through September, safeguarding food access for millions.
Thune praised the bipartisan effort, saying senators were ready to “get to work” on healthcare reforms. But several Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, blasted the compromise as insufficient, accusing lawmakers of capitulating without concrete concessions.
If approved by the House of Representatives, the deal would end weeks of dysfunction that have strained public services, disrupted travel, and raised concerns about national safety, including warnings from the transport secretary that continued staff shortages could reduce flights “to a trickle.”
Despite Sunday’s progress, the path ahead remains uncertain. The deal must endure debates, amendments, and political resistance in the House, where both hardline Republicans and skeptical Democrats could pose significant challenges before the government fully reopens.
