The U.S. Senate has taken a major step toward ending the longest government shutdown in American history. On Sunday, senators approved a procedural vote to move forward with a Republican-led funding measure, aimed at reopening the government and providing temporary relief to federal workers and essential programs.
The vote passed 60-40, with eight Democrats breaking ranks to support the stopgap funding package. The measure will fund key parts of the federal government, including food aid programs and the legislative branch, until January 30. Independent senator Angus King also voted in favor.
Despite the bipartisan support, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer opposed the bill, highlighting the lack of guaranteed extensions for Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. He emphasized that healthcare remains a top priority for Democrats.
The funding measure ensures that federal employees who had received layoff notices will be reinstated and reimbursed for lost wages. Critical programs, such as food assistance and veterans’ benefits, will continue operating, and protections against further workforce reductions are included until January.
The 40-day shutdown has caused widespread disruption. Airlines reported over 2,000 canceled flights and 7,000 delays on Sunday alone, and Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy warned that travel could be severely limited ahead of Thanksgiving if the closure continued. Food aid programs, including SNAP, faced delays, impacting millions of Americans, while the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., saw a nearly 20 percent increase in meals distributed to support unpaid federal workers and vulnerable residents.
The Senate’s procedural vote marks a critical step toward restoring government services and easing hardships for federal workers and the public.
