US Senate Advances Deal to End Longest Government Shutdown in History

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

The United States Senate has taken a significant step toward ending the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history, as a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted to advance a compromise agreement to reopen federal operations.

On Sunday night, eight Democratic senators joined nearly all Republicans in supporting the measure, producing a 60 to 40 vote in favor of moving the deal forward. The agreement, reached through behind-the-scenes negotiations among lawmakers from both parties and the White House, would fund the government until the end of January and reverse recent lay-offs initiated during the shutdown. It also ensures that furloughed federal workers receive back pay once operations resume.

The deal includes a key concession from Democrats regarding healthcare tax credits, a major point of contention throughout the funding impasse. While the compromise does not extend the credits beyond their scheduled expiration, it guarantees a vote on the matter by mid-December.

President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the development, telling reporters on Sunday that an end to the shutdown was near. The 40-day standoff has disrupted essential government services, delayed welfare payments, and deeply affected millions of Americans who depend on federal programs.

Despite the progress, the procedural vote revealed divisions within the Democratic Party. Some lawmakers argued that supporting the deal amounted to giving in to Republican demands, while others emphasized the urgency of protecting federal employees from further hardship.

The agreement must still pass the Senate’s final vote and gain approval from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives before reaching the president’s desk.

Financial markets responded positively to the news, with futures tied to the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 rising early Monday. Treasury yields also edged higher as investors anticipated the resumption of government operations after nearly six weeks of political gridlock.