The US Senate passed a short-term funding bill to end the country’s longest shutdown, the BBC reported.
The bill passed late Monday with a 60 to 40 vote. Most Republicans, except for Senator Rand Paul, supported it, along with eight Democrats. The bill provides short-term funding for the government, allowing essential services to continue through Jan. 30 and giving full-year funding to the Department of Agriculture, military construction and legislative agencies. It also ensures federal employees will get back pay for missed work and allows the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to continue making payments to recipients until next September.
The shutdown began in October, forcing 1.4 million federal workers to miss pay or take unpaid leave. It also disrupted air travel and food benefits for millions of people.
The bill heads to the House, where Republicans hold a narrow two-seat majority. Speaker Mike Johnson has already called members back to debate on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, President Donald Trump announced that he would sign the bill, describing the deal as «very good.»
Although some Democrats criticized the passage without more information on healthcare subsidies, backers said reopening the government was the most important issue.
If the House approves the bill, the government could reopen in a few days. This would allow federal agencies to resume full operations and ensure workers receive pay for the period they were furloughed or working without pay.
