After 41 days of deadlock, Trump-backed funding bill clears Senate with bipartisan support, signaling imminent end to historic shutdown.
In a dramatic late-night breakthrough, the U.S. Senate on Monday approved a Republican-backed funding bill to end the longest government shutdown in American history, now in its 41st day. The measure, crafted under President Donald Trump’s leadership, passed with the support of eight Democrats, marking a rare moment of bipartisanship amid weeks of political warfare in Washington.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where swift passage is expected before heading to President Trump’s desk for his signature. The agreement provides temporary funding for several critical sectors — including food assistance, veterans’ programs, and the legislative branch — extending operations through January 30.
White House officials hailed the Senate vote as “a victory for the American worker and the rule of law.” The plan also reinstates laid-off federal employees and reimburses states that used their own funds to sustain key federal programs during the shutdown.
Under the terms of the deal, Republicans secured a December vote on healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, a key bargaining point for Trump’s party. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, however, warned that Democrats remain “vigilant” and will continue to resist what he called “Republican hostage tactics.”
Nevertheless, the Senate’s action signals the beginning of the end of a bitter standoff that left over a million federal workers unpaid and threatened to derail critical services nationwide.
The Trump administration is now preparing a phased reopening of agencies, while the President is expected to address the nation from the White House once the bill clears Congress.
