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The U.S. Senate reached a bipartisan agreement Sunday to reopen the government after 40 days of closure, advancing a stopgap spending bill that would fund federal agencies through the end of January.
Moderate Democrats and Republicans struck a compromise on a temporary budget measure, with several Democratic senators announcing they would vote “yes” to end the shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed the agreement late Sunday and called for an emergency vote to approve the measure.
The temporary funding bill is expected to pass in the Senate and move to the House of Representatives for consideration before heading to the White House for President Donald Trump’s signature.
Trump told reporters he believed a resolution was imminent, saying, “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.”
The measure will keep the government funded at pre-shutdown levels until the end of January and aims to restore federal operations that have been halted since the closure began.
It also provides back pay for furloughed employees and reinstates those who were laid off during the shutdown.
Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, one of the Democrats supporting the deal, said it would protect federal workers and prevent further financial strain. “I need a moratorium on the punishing of the federal workforce,” Kaine said.
The bill also includes provisions to extend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and to hold a vote on renewing healthcare subsidies due to expire this year.
The government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, halted federal programs and severely disrupted sectors such as air travel.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned earlier Sunday that continued funding delays could lead to more flight cancellations and delays.
According to FlightAware, more than 3,000 flights had been canceled and over 10,000 delayed across the country by Sunday evening.
Senator Thune said the agreement would bring relief to millions of Americans, noting, “After 40 days of uncertainty, I’m profoundly glad to announce that nutrition programs, our veterans, and other critical priorities will have their full-year funding.”
Not all Democrats supported the deal. Senator Chuck Schumer voted against the measure, criticizing Republicans for undermining healthcare access.
“Republicans have spent the past 10 months dismantling the healthcare system, skyrocketing costs, and making every day harder for American families,” he said.
Some progressive lawmakers also voiced opposition. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argued that the compromise falls short of addressing the needs of working families, writing on X: “People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not about politics; it’s about people’s lives.”
Despite divisions, the agreement marked a significant step toward ending the historic shutdown, restoring essential services, and reopening federal operations after more than a month of deadlock.
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