The US Senate has approved a bipartisan deal to end the longest government shutdown in history, which has affected food aid, worker wages and airline operations. The 60-40 vote saw a majority of Republicans and a handful of Democrats supporting the measure.
The deal would restore funding for federal agencies that expired on October 1 and delay government layoffs until January 30. It also extends government funding through the same date, adding about $1.8 trillion a year to the national debt.
Democrats failed to include an extension of health care subsidies that benefit 24 million Americans, despite a new vote scheduled for December. Party leaders expressed frustration that there is no guarantee that the subsidies will continue.
The measure now heads to the House of Representatives for final approval, where Speaker Mike Johnson aims to pass it as early as Wednesday before sending it to President Trump, who hailed the deal as “very good.”
US stock markets rose on news of the deal's progress, although some Democrats continued to voice concerns about the president's power to make unilateral budget cuts in the future.
