Senate strikes deal to end record U.S. government shutdown

The U.S. Senate has taken a decisive step toward ending the longest government shutdown in the nation’s history, which began on October 1. On Sunday night, senators approved the first phase of a deal to fund federal operations through January 30, with 60 votes in favor and 40 against.

Eight Democrats broke with party leadership to support the measure, which must still pass the House of Representatives before being signed by President Donald Trump. The agreement, reached after an intense weekend of negotiations, reinstates all furloughed federal employees and ensures back pay for those affected. During the shutdown, about 1.4 million government workers were left without pay, while millions of Americans faced delays in food assistance and public services.

The Senate vote only moved forward late in the evening, when Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn arrived to cast his vote, greeted by bipartisan applause. Republicans Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, and Mike Lee also backed the measure after discussions with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the main architect of the deal alongside the White House and three members of the Democratic caucus.

The agreement does not include the Democrats’ key demand to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, but it guarantees a vote on the issue in December. The package also introduces new rules to prevent the White House from relying on stopgap funding measures and secures financing for the SNAP program through September, ensuring food assistance for 42 million Americans.

Despite the general sense of relief, criticism remains. Senator Bernie Sanders called the deal “horrible” and “a totally senseless gesture,” underscoring that the political battle over America’s budget is far from over.

Andrea Pelucchi