Senate Advances Bill to End 41-Day Government Shutdown, But Hurdles Remain
WASHINGTON - The Senate on Sunday evening advanced a bill to end the historic 41-day partial government shutdown, marking the first notable breakthrough after 14 previous failed attempts. The measure now faces further debate and a House vote before potentially reaching President Donald TrumpS desk.
The shutdown, which began October 22nd, has surpassed the previous record length, impacting federal employees, travel, and vital assistance programs. The proposed legislation would fund military construction, veterans’ affairs, the department of Agriculture, and the legislative branch through September 30, 2026. The remaining government departments would be funded at current levels through January 30th.
The path forward isn’t guaranteed.The bill requires Senate debate – potentially vulnerable to a filibuster – and approval from the House of Representatives. Both chambers are scheduled to be in session Monday, but a final resolution is expected to take days.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed optimism about a swift resolution, stating on Sunday, “We had a good vote tonight. We’ll hopefully get an opportunity to set up the next votes… We’ll see how motivated people are tomorrow.” House Speaker Mike johnson urged lawmakers Monday to “begin right now in returning to the Hill,” signaling a push for a swift end to the stalemate.
The shutdown has already caused significant disruption, shuttering federal food assistance programs, straining short-staffed airports, and leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees without paychecks.
