In a major breakthrough to resolve the longest government shutdown in US history, the Senate on Sunday, November 9, approved a comprehensive federal funding bill designed to restore operations after 41 days of paralysis across key departments.

The measure, championed by President Donald Trump and backed by Senate Republicans, cleared the chamber with the narrowest possible margin — 60 votes in favour and 40 against — marking a significant step toward reopening federal agencies. The vote followed nearly two hours of intense deliberation, with eight Democrats crossing party lines to support the bill. Texas Senator John Cornyn cast the decisive vote in favour.

According to reports cited by the Associated Press, the legislation extends federal funding until January 2026, covering vital sectors including food assistance, veterans’ welfare programmes, and the legislative branch. It also mandates the reinstatement of furloughed federal employees, reimbursement for states that spent their own funds to maintain federal services, and calls for a separate vote on healthcare subsidies before December.

With Senate approval secured, the bill now heads to the House of Representatives for final consideration. If approved there, it will move to President Trump’s desk for signature — officially ending a shutdown that has affected millions of federal workers and disrupted several public services nationwide.

Despite internal disagreements, several moderate Democrats chose to support the compromise bill, even without a firm commitment on healthcare subsidy extensions — a move that has sparked criticism within their own ranks.