^{Photo: The Guardian}

After weeks of gridlock and mounting national pressure, the U.S. Senate has approved a bipartisan bill to end the longest government shutdown in American history. The measure, which funds the federal government through January, passed late Monday night by a 60–40 vote — a narrow margin that reflected deep political divisions yet growing urgency to restore normal operations across federal agencies.

The legislation, supported by nearly all Republicans and a small bloc of centrist Democrats, now moves to the House of Representatives for a final vote. If passed, it will head to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature, officially reopening the federal government after more than six weeks of partial closure that began on October 1.

A Race Against Time in the House

House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to return to Washington immediately, instructing Republican members to prepare for a possible vote as early as Wednesday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time. Johnson told reporters he hopes the lower chamber will move quickly to send the bill to the President, calling it “an important step toward fiscal stability and responsible governance.”

President Trump has already voiced support for the deal, signaling that he will sign the measure once it reaches his desk. The White House described the agreement as a “temporary fix,” designed to buy time for a longer-term budget resolution expected early next year.

What the Bill Includes

The new agreement provides government funding through the end of January and includes several key provisions:

• Restoration of Federal Pay: The bill ensures that all 2.1 million federal employees will receive their full back pay, reversing any furlough-related income losses.
• SNAP Funding Secured: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports over 42 million Americans, will be funded through September.
• Bipartisan Budget Framework: The deal establishes a process to promote bipartisan negotiations on long-term spending priorities.
• Limits on Continuing Resolutions: The White House will face new restrictions on relying solely on temporary continuing resolutions (CRs), a common yet controversial tool used to avoid shutdowns without long-term fiscal planning.

The Affordable Care Act Dispute

A key point of contention remains the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which currently lower health insurance costs for roughly 20 million Americans. Democrats had pushed for guarantees that the subsidies, set to expire in December, would be extended through 2026.

Before Monday’s Senate vote, Speaker Johnson declined to commit to a December vote on the issue, telling CNN, “I’m not committing to it or not committing to it.” This hesitation drew sharp criticism from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who accused Republicans of “gambling with Americans’ healthcare security.”

Still, the Senate compromise was the only path forward after weeks of stalemate. Many Democratic senators reluctantly supported the bill, viewing it as a necessary step to reopen the government and prevent further damage to federal services and the economy.

Economic and Social Impact

The shutdown, which stretched over six weeks, has already taken a visible toll. Analysts from Moody’s estimate that the U.S. economy lost nearly $6 billion in productivity and consumer spending during the shutdown. Approximately 800,000 federal employees were furloughed or forced to work without pay, while critical agencies — from the IRS to national parks — faced operational slowdowns.

The Senate deal guarantees back pay to all affected workers “at the earliest possible date,” as required by the 2019 federal law governing shutdown compensation. Economists warn, however, that the ripple effects — including delayed contracts, slowed federal loans, and decreased tourism at federal sites — could take months to fully recover from.

Looking Ahead

If the House passes the bill and President Trump signs it, the government will reopen by the end of the week. However, the political battle over long-term spending and healthcare subsidies is far from over. Lawmakers have just weeks to negotiate a broader budget before funding once again runs out in January.

For now, Americans can expect government services to resume, federal paychecks to be restored, and food assistance programs to continue without interruption. Yet the episode underscores a recurring theme in Washington — temporary deals that patch over deep partisan divides without fully resolving them.

As the Capitol braces for another round of fiscal negotiations, one thing is clear: ending the shutdown is only the beginning of a much larger political and economic challenge ahead.