After weeks of political stalemate, the US Senate has passed a bipartisan spending bill that would bring an end to the ongoing government shutdown. The measure which passed late Monday, will temporarily fund some federal departments and agencies.
The shutdown won’t officially end until the US House of Representatives reconvenes and votes on the bill before sending it to President Donald Trump for his signature.
Senate Passes Funding Bill
The Senate voted 60–40 to pass the bill out of the chamber, ending weeks of impasse. The package includes full-year funding for military construction, veterans affairs, agriculture, the FDA and legislative branch operations. It also reverses Trump era shutdown layoffs and pauses new ones through January 30.
Eight Democratic senators crossed party lines to support the measure while Republican Senator Rand Paul opposed it. The breakthrough came after a weekend of negotiations that promised a separate vote in December on the controversial health tax credit issue.
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House Still in Recess
But the shutdown persists since the House of Representatives remains on recess. Speaker Mike Johnson has kept the chamber closed since mid-September, claiming no legislative work until the Senate passed a funding bill.
However, critics say the recess was at least in part to circumvent discussions on contentious issues, such as the unsealed Jeffrey Epstein files. Members of the House cannot vote for the bill’s approval in the absence of a formal session delaying its final passage.
When Will the House Reopen?
Speaker Johnson has not announced an official reopening date but indicated that lawmakers should return to Washington as soon as possible. Reports indicate the House could reconvene by Wednesday to take up the spending bill.
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Once the House votes in the legislation will go to President Trump for final approval and officially end what may turn out to be the longest government shutdown in US history, extending beyond 41 days.
What’s Next for the US Government?
If passed, this bill would fund the government through January 2026 and would offer a temporary reprieve from further shutdown threats. The episode underlined sharp partisan splits in Congress and swelling public frustration over repeated funding crises.
The action by the Senate is a step forward but Americans will have to wait a little longer before federal operations are completely back to normal.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available legislative updates. Details may change as the US House resumes session and final votes are cast.
