WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan bill aimed at ending the 40-day federal government shutdown, sending the measure to the House of Representatives for final approval.
The legislation would fund most federal agencies through January and guarantee back pay for federal workers who have gone without salaries during the shutdown. The package was negotiated over the weekend by Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, working alongside Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune and White House officials.
The bill cleared the Senate with 60 votes, aided by at least eight Democrats who broke with party leadership. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer opposed the measure, citing concerns over unresolved issues surrounding healthcare subsidies tied to the Affordable Care Act.
The deal would also restore federal employees who were dismissed during the shutdown and ensure continued food stamp funding through fiscal year 2026, providing stability for low-income households. Republican leaders in the Senate have pledged to hold a separate vote in early December on expiring enhanced healthcare subsidies.
The shutdown has caused widespread disruptions, particularly in air travel. Major airlines reduced flights and reported thousands of cancellations over the past weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a 4 percent reduction in flight traffic amid staffing shortages in air traffic control, raising concerns ahead of the busy Thanksgiving travel period.
National parks, federal research programs, and various public services have also faced closures or reduced operations during the shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history.
The measure now heads to the House, where lawmakers are expected to take it up soon. Negotiators expressed cautious optimism that the bill’s passage will allow government services to resume quickly and restore stability for federal workers and the public. (Source: IANS)
