U.S. Senate Votes to End 40-Day Government Shutdown
The SenateS approval marks the first concrete step toward ending the government shutdown that has lasted 40 days, according to the English section of webangah News Agency citing Mehr News Agency and The Hill.
A group of moderate Democrats, frustrated with the prolonged political stalemate, joined Republicans to advance the house’s temporary funding measure known as the “Continuing Appropriations Resolution” in the Senate. Previously, Democrats had blocked this bill on 14 occasions.
Economic and social pressures weigh on moderates
The expiration of food assistance funding on November 1 and a severe shortage of air traffic controllers intensified pressure on moderate Democrats. Eight Democratic senators-including Dick Durbin, who plans to retire at year-end-along with Jane Shahin, Maggie Hassan, Tim Kaine, and Angus King (an independent aligned with democrats), voted in favor of the House bill.
Senators John Fetterman and Catherine Cortez Masto-who had earlier expressed support-also backed the measure.
Details of agreement and party leaders’ roles
senate Majority Leader John Thune (Republican) will replace the House bill with an amended version developed collaboratively with Shahin, Hassan, King, and others. As a member of the Appropriations Committee alongside its chair Susan Collins, Shahin helped oversee drafting this budget package.
The plan provides funding for military construction projects, veterans affairs programs, Agriculture Department operations, and legislative branch agencies through September 30,th 2026. other government sectors will be covered under a temporary resolution valid until January 30,th 2026.
This deal also preserves jobs for more than four thousand federal employees who faced layoffs during the shutdown. Furthermore, until this temporary resolution expires at its end date under former President Trump’s administration’s authority in this context is limited from initiating workforce reductions. Tim Kaine played a key role in securing job protections during negotiations.
Next step: House returns after seven-week recess
Following Senate approval of this bill, the House must return from its seven-week recess to pass final legislation for President Trump’s signature.
As part of this broader agreement, Senator Thune committed to holding votes later this year on extending enhanced health insurance subsidies under Obamacare that expire in January; however there are no guarantees these measures will pass either chamber before then.
Dissent persists among Democrats
This accord took shape amid intense negotiations over recent weeks in the Senate. Several actively involved Democratic senators-including Gary Peters; Alicia Slatkin; Jon Ossoff; Tammy Baldwin; and Peter Welch-ultimately opposed moving forward on consideration once it reached voting stage.
Alicia Slatkin told reporters after meeting with fellow Democrats that she distanced herself from talks when it became clear that extension of Obamacare subsidies would not be included in any deal. “I have always said an agreement needs tangible action on healthcare,” she added cautiously suggesting current terms fall short in delivering that outcome.”
